China's maritime ambitions expand with largest assault ship

Recently, the Chinese shipyard Hudong-Zhonghua launched the amphibious assault ship with an aircraft deck, Sichuan (hull number 51) of the Type 076 class (NATO code: Yulan). Key information about it is worth revisiting, as it is an extraordinary ship.

First and foremost, it is the largest amphibious assault ship in the world: it is 827 feet long and 148 feet wide overall, with a displacement, depending on the source, reaching up to 55,100 tons. The ship features two islands, a configuration that has recently become fashionable: one island is likely the centre of operations for air management, while the other might be used for managing the ship.

Regarding the air group, the ship also stands out: China does not have vertical take-off and landing jets (such as the Harrier, Yak-36, and 38 or F-35B), so to accommodate jet combat aircraft (apparently up to 40 planes, helicopters, and large drones in total), it is equipped with a modern electromagnetic catapult longer than that on the Fujian aircraft carrier.

Transport capabilities, meanwhile, reach approximately 1,000 soldiers, who can be delivered to land using two 726A hovercraft transported in the dock or by helicopters. There is also a novel propulsion system - partially electric - along with modern electronic equipment (similar to the Type 054B frigates) and relatively strong armaments. This is not the only symbol of China's growing maritime power.

The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), like any military formation, is a tool of state policy. Beijing's main ambition is to replace the United States as the global hegemon to reap immense benefits from such an exceptional position. The USA is primarily a maritime power; therefore, to strip it of its dominance, China needs a great fleet.

In the short term, the goal is to take over the "rebellious province" that Beijing considers Taiwan.

Organizationally, the PLAN is divided into three fleets: the North Sea Fleet (main base in Qingdao), the East Sea Fleet (Ningbo), and the South Sea Fleet (Zhanjiang). It has extensive forces: surface, submarine, air, marine infantry, and finally coastal defence. The Chinese fleet is now larger than the US Navy, with about 400 combat, transport, and auxiliary vessels. These forces, aside from performing typical tasks or exercises, are also used to carry out aggressive and provocative actions against countries with which China has territorial disputes (e.g., the Philippines).

With the growth of wealth (as well as ambition), Beijing is building increasingly larger and more modern ships. Even in the not-so-distant past, the bulk of the forces consisted of various types of small vessels only suitable for coastal defence (in the "mosquito fleet" concept). Even today, the PLAN has dozens of small ships (over 80 relatively modern Type 22 missile boats were produced).

At the other extreme, however, are truly regal class vessels: aircraft carriers. The Chinese fleet today has three such vessels (with Liaoning being more of a training-experimental ship), of which Fujian is only slightly smaller than American supercarriers, and the Type 004 vessel under construction is supposed to match them. Both are also equipped with modern electromagnetic catapults instead of ski jumps that facilitate take-off.

While the carrier strike groups are based on aircraft derived from the Soviet Su-27, the Shenyangs J-11B and J-15, the same manufacturer has developed the 5th-generation J-35 naval aircraft, derived from the export FC-31. Amphibious assault ships are not far behind them in size. The large Type 075 units, predecessors of the latest 076, are ships with a length of 761 feet and a displacement of up to 44,100 tons with helicopter decks. More classical but also modern ships of Type 071 (689 feet and 27,600 tons) without continuous flight decks are smaller. They are complemented by smaller and older vessels, totalling several dozen.

Similar to the US Navy, among the surface escort-strike units, destroyers prevail. There are a few units of Russian origin (project 956E/EM, four units). The most popular type is the not very large but numerous (about 30 units in service, with at least 40 planned) 052D, measuring 512 feet in length and displacing 8,300 tons. These ships are heavily armed with 64 vertical launchers and a 24-cell point-defence system. They also accommodate a helicopter.

There are still 10 older units of older types 52 and several 051B/C ships in service. The latest are the large destroyers (actually cruisers) of Type 055, about 590 feet long and displacing up to 14,300 tons. These are significantly more heavily armed than the 052D type units (including 112 vertical launchers and two helicopters), and appear to be quite successful escort units.

Besides them, there are, of course, numerous frigates in service. The most numerous type is the 054A (about 35 in service, with at least 40 more planned), in addition to several older, smaller units. The newest 054B (two units, more in plans) are relatively large frigates, 482 feet long and displacing 6,600 tons, armed with 32 vertical launchers and direct defence missile launchers – they can thus be considered equivalents of our future Wichers.

The corvettes of Type 056 and 056A, displacing about 1,650 tons, are extremely numerous. They perform rather auxiliary functions, as evidenced by the transfer of 22 older 056s to the coast guard - "only" 50 newer units were retained by the fleet.

The core of the underwater component, meanwhile, consists of large nuclear-powered submarines carrying ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads. There are seven submarines of types 092 and 094, with two more 094s and six to eight more modern 096s planned. In addition, there are nuclear-powered attack submarines in service (three older types 091, six of type 093 plus two under construction, with Type 095 being developed) as well as smaller conventional units. The latter are very numerous, with over 30 units of types 093 and 093A. It is uncertain what happens with the new Type 041 submarine, interestingly of unknown propulsion – this considerable unit supposedly sank at the turn of May and June 2024.

At the end of 2024, Beijing revealed several types of weaponry. In addition to a range of information – including many photos – about the amphibious assault ship (and in practice a substantial aircraft carrier) Type 076, materials from the flight of two aircraft were released. These were the Shenyang J-50 and Chengdu J-36. Yet there is still a lack of specific data in the public domain related to these machines.

According to available information, these are prototype (more likely demonstrative) machines of two completely different 6th-generation planes. This would mean that China is catching up with the USA, which tested its own aircraft a few years ago. The seemingly excessive accumulation of technological innovations was likely intended to convey a signal to the rest of the world: China is not only catching up with the West, but it is trying to surpass it and achieve a dominance that is secure enough to intimidate potential competition and reduce the costs of achieving political effects, for example, potentially taking over Taiwan.

It cannot be denied that communist China, despite many mistakes, has carved out a strong position as a global player, with significant economic and political clout. Thus, competition in the military field is not surprising, although so far without openly challenging the main competitor – the USA and its allies.

China is investing immense amounts of money in technological development alongside a quantitative expansion of its forces. It is difficult to assess the real effects: indeed, the Chinese shipbuilding industry is very efficient – perhaps more so than the American industry – but are the dozens of Chinese ships truly comparable to the Arleigh Burke destroyers (and their successors) or their Asian counterparts? Are Chinese futuristic planes finally equipped with modern engines (and China was lagging in this regard compared to Russia), with modern radars, electronics? To put it colloquially, photographs don't reveal the computational power offered by Chinese onboard computers.

Moreover, contrary to some analysts, China is in a difficult situation. Taiwan is indeed close to the coast, but to break through "further," into the deep of the American sphere of influence, China must contend not only with the US Navy but also with the forces of Japan, Australia, the Philippines, European allies, perhaps also Vietnam or South Korea. Furthermore, the chain of islands encircling China also serves as an excellent chain of missile bases, including those for anti-aircraft, anti-ship, and cruise missiles. China's emergence into the ocean would certainly not be painless, and a long road lies ahead for Beijing. Does a state increasingly feeling the demographic crisis still have time?