Chinese Assault Ships Put On Show of Force in South China Sea
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Chinese amphibious warships, including a helicopter-carrying assault ship, have staged a show of force in the South China Sea, supporting Beijing's territorial claims in the contested region.
Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email.
Why It Matters
China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea. These claims overlap with those of several neighboring countries and a 2016 international arbitral tribunal decision rejected China's position on a number of rocks or low-tide reefs also claimed by the Philippines. Beijing bases its position on what it calls "historic rights" in the disputed waters.
China has the largest navy in the world by hull count, with over 370 ships and submarines. The Chinese fleet includes vessels designed for conducting amphibious warfare to project ground and air power from the sea during island landing campaigns.
What To Know
The Chinese military's media wing released an undated video on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, showing the Type 075 amphibious assault ship CNS Hainan. Capable of carrying helicopters, it was conducting a "multi-subject maritime training" in the South China Sea.
The Hainan was part of "a landing ship flotilla" with three Type 071 amphibious landing platform dock vessels—CNS Qilianshan, CNS Changbaishan and CNS Jinggangshan. They were seen firing their weapons after detecting "enemy" targets during live-fire exercises.
A Type 075 helicopter-carrying #AmphibiousAssaultShip #Hainan (Hull 31) and three Type 071 amphibious landing platform docks (#LPDs) attached to a landing ship flotilla of Chinese #PLA #Navy carried out multi-subject maritime training in #SouthChinaSea. @China_Navy pic.twitter.com/7GuJd3DGWD — China Bugle 中国军号 (@ChinaBugle) April 29, 2025
It was not immediately clear where the exact location of the training was. The Hainan, the Qilianshan, and the Changbaishan were seen taking part in a maritime training exercise in the South China Sea on February 20, according to official photos released on March 12.
The release of the video comes after the Chinese navy celebrated the 76th anniversary of its founding on April 23. One of the Chinese warships participating in an open-house event on that day was the Hainan, which was docked in its namesake Chinese southern province.
In December 2024, China launched its first new-generation Type 076 amphibious assault ship, CNS Sichuan. Unlike the Hainan, the advanced Sichuan is equipped with a catapult system that supports flight operations by fixed-wing aircraft in a similar way to an aircraft carrier.
What People Are Saying
The Chinese military said: "As China's first independently-built amphibious assault ship, [the] Hainan is equipped with a variety of firepower systems such as missiles and close-in weapons system (CIWS) capable of self-defense and counter-attack, a through deck that can carry multi-type ship-borne helicopters, and an internal dock that can carry multi-type tanks and air cushion landing craft."
The Chinese Type 075 amphibious assault ship CNS Hainan is seen moored at Macun Port in China's Hainan Province on April 22, 2025.
The Chinese Type 075 amphibious assault ship CNS Hainan is seen moored at Macun Port in China's Hainan Province on April 22, 2025.
Luo Yunfei/China News Service/VCG via AP
The Pentagon's Chinese military power report read: "The [People's Liberation Army Navy]'s expanding fleet of large modern amphibious warships enable it to conduct a wide range of expeditionary operations wherever [People's Republic of China] interests are threatened or in support of [People's Republic of China] participation in internationally sanctioned operations."
China's Global Times reported, citing an anonymous military expert: "The Type 075 will become an indispensable and fresh force in China's modern naval warfare, especially for landing missions."
What Happens Next
The Chinese military continued to carry out its activities in the South China Sea, including routine patrols on Tuesday, as it vowed to safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty.
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