Meet the Type 055 destroyers steering China’s blue-water ambitions as far as Australia
China's Type 055 destroyers are playing an increasingly prominent role in the country's ambition to become a global maritime power, with recent deployments showcasing their capabilities across the Pacific. The Zunyi led live-fire drills off the Australian east coast, prompting alerts from Australia and New Zealand, while other Type 055s have been involved in exercises near Taiwan, patrols with Russian warships in the Sea of Japan, and deployments to the southern Pacific.
These deployments highlight the growing reach and sophistication of the PLA Navy, which has undergone a significant expansion and modernization in recent years. With eight Type 055 destroyers in service by 2023, along with new aircraft carriers, landing helicopter docks, and other advanced vessels, China now possesses the world's largest navy by number of vessels, significantly enhancing its maritime combat power.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
China's Type 055 destroyers are playing an increasingly prominent role in the country's ambition to become a global maritime power, with recent deployments showcasing their capabilities across the Pacific. The Zunyi led live-fire drills off the Australian east coast, prompting alerts from Australia and New Zealand, while other Type 055s have been involved in exercises near Taiwan, patrols with Russian warships in the Sea of Japan, and deployments to the southern Pacific.
These deployments highlight the growing reach and sophistication of the PLA Navy, which has undergone a significant expansion and modernization in recent years. With eight Type 055 destroyers in service by 2023, along with new aircraft carriers, landing helicopter docks, and other advanced vessels, China now possesses the world's largest navy by number of vessels, significantly enhancing its maritime combat power.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
