Latest news with #CNSHainan
Newsweek
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Ally Intercepts Chinese Fleet Breaching Pacific Island Chain
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A fleet of Chinese naval vessels, led by an amphibious assault ship, has been operating in the contested waters off southwestern Japan, beyond a strategic Western Pacific island chain meant to keep China's forces in check. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. Why It Matters Japan, along with U.S.-friendly Taiwan and the U.S. treaty ally Philippines, forms part of the so-called first island chain, an American maritime containment strategy that aims to restrict China's military to its coastal waters with the help of U.S.-aligned territories in the region. China has the world's largest navy by hull count, with more than 370 ships and submarines, including three Type 075 amphibious assault ships currently in active service. These vessels can project both ground and air power during island-landing operations in contested waters. Beijing is expanding its military reach and presence within and beyond the Western Pacific island chain, a challenge to Washington's historical naval dominance. Chinese warships have often been seen operating east of the first island chain and approaching the second island chain. Aerial view of the Chinese Type 075 amphibious assault ship CNS Hainan moored at Macun Port in Hainan Province of China on April 22, 2025. Aerial view of the Chinese Type 075 amphibious assault ship CNS Hainan moored at Macun Port in Hainan Province of China on April 22, 2025. Luo Yunfei/China News Service/VCG via AP What To Know A group of five Chinese navy ships was detected traveling south through the Miyako Strait—a waterway in Japan's southwestern islands—from the East China Sea toward the Philippine Sea, according to the report issued by the Joint Staff Office of Japan's Defense Ministry. The Chinese flotilla comprised the Type 075 amphibious assault ship Anhui; the Type 052D destroyer Suzhou; a pair of Type 054A frigates, the Zhoushan and the Xuzhou; and the Type 071 amphibious transport dock Longhushan—all identified by their hull numbers. Meanwhile, satellite imagery captured Sunday appeared to show three Chinese naval vessels—including a Type 075 amphibious assault ship, a Type 071 amphibious transport dock and a Type 054A frigate—operating 229 miles east from Taiwan's southernmost point. However, it was not immediately clear whether the Chinese ships were the same ones that had transited the Miyako Strait earlier. If confirmed, this would mark the second time the Anhui has operated both near Japan's southwestern islands and Taiwan since February. The Chinese navy's regular presence in the area will have implications for any U.S. defense strategy to prevent the forcibly seizure of self-ruled Taiwan, the island Beijing has long claims is part of Chinese territory. A Taiwan Strait crisis would likely impact the Philippines as well. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea defines a coastal state's territorial waters as extending up to 12 nautical miles (13.8 miles) from its coastline, while its exclusive economic zone extends a further 200 nautical miles (230 miles) beyond that. Japan did not report any breach of territorial waters. Great work by @TaiwanMonitor & @songs349 (if you are interested in the PLAN/Taiwan, give them both a follow) In addition to the Type 075 and Type 071, there appears to be a Type 54A frigate with the group as well Also, could be rotary wing ops in progress near the Type 075 LHD — MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) May 18, 2025 What People Are Saying Japan's 2024 Defense White Paper read: "China has been rapidly building up military capabilities while intensifying its activities in the East China Sea…as well as in the Pacific." Senior Colonel Wu Qian, China's Defense Ministry spokesperson, said: "Japan has been closely tracking, monitoring, and interfering with Chinese vessels and aircraft for a long time, jeopardizing the safety of Chinese vessels and aircraft and easily causing maritime and air security problems." The Pentagon's China military power report said: "The [People's Liberation Army Navy]'s ability to perform missions beyond the [first island chain] is modest but growing as it gains more experience operating in distant waters and acquires larger and more advanced platforms." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the Anhui-led naval task group will be part of a Chinese military exercise around Taiwan.
Miami Herald
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
China Adds More Firepower Invasion Fleet
China is expected to commission a new large naval vessel, which is designed for amphibious warfare in island-landing operations across the contested Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. China has long claimed that Taiwan, a self-governed island, is part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to assert that claim. Meanwhile, its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea cover most of the waters, which overlap with those of neighboring nations. According to the Pentagon, the Chinese military has built the world's largest navy by hull count, with over 370 ships and submarines in service, including the Type 075 amphibious assault ships, which have operated in waters near Taiwan and in the South China Sea. A photo that circulated on social media last week shows the fourth Type 075 amphibious assault ship, with hull number 34, was pierside at an undisclosed location in China. Alex Luck, an Australia-based naval analyst, said the warship is "supposedly close to service entry." According to the analyst, the currently unnamed ship has been assigned to China's Southern Theater Command, which is responsible for securing the South China Sea and supporting the Eastern Theater Command in military operations against Taiwan, the Pentagon assessed. China operates three Type 075 amphibious assault ships—CNS Hainan, CNS Guangxi, and CNS Anhui—with hull numbers 31, 32, and 33, respectively. These vessels help safeguard the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty, according to the state-run Global Times. In its report on Chinese military power, the Pentagon noted that the "highly capable" Type 075 amphibious assault ship provides China with an "all-aspect expeditionary capability," including the ability to carry landing craft, troops, armored vehicles and helicopters. Regarding the fourth Type 075 amphibious assault ship, the Pentagon's report—released in December 2024—said the ship was launched in 2023 and was expected to be operational the following year. The Chinese military has yet to announce the ship's commissioning date. Before commissioning another Type 075 warship, China launched its successor—the Type 076 amphibious assault ship—last December. This "new-generation" naval ship is designed to support flight operations of fixed-wing aircraft using a catapult and arresting system. Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck said: "Finally an image of the fourth Type 075 [amphibious assault ship], based with South Sea Fleet, with her hull number and supposedly close to service entry." The Pentagon's Chinese military power report read: "The PLAN's newest amphibious ships, the [Type 075 amphibious assault ships] and [Type 071 amphibious transport dock ships], are modern platforms capable of regional and global expeditionary missions in support of wartime and non-war contingency operations singly or as part of capable and flexible task groups composed of multiple amphibious ships and surface combatants." PLAN stands for People's Liberation Army Navy, the official name of the Chinese navy. It remains to be seen whether China will continue building additional Type 075 amphibious assault ships or shift its shipbuilding capacity to the more advanced Type 076 warships. Related Articles Did Donald Trump Lose China Trade War? 10 Experts Weigh InChina Stages War Games at New Overseas Military BaseChina's State Media Claims Victory After US Trade TalksHIMARS Unleashed in Taiwan as China Watches On 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
China Adds More Firepower Invasion Fleet
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. China is expected to commission a new large naval vessel, which is designed for amphibious warfare in island-landing operations across the contested Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. Why It Matters China has long claimed that Taiwan, a self-governed island, is part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to assert that claim. Meanwhile, its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea cover most of the waters, which overlap with those of neighboring nations. According to the Pentagon, the Chinese military has built the world's largest navy by hull count, with over 370 ships and submarines in service, including the Type 075 amphibious assault ships, which have operated in waters near Taiwan and in the South China Sea. What To Know A photo that circulated on social media last week shows the fourth Type 075 amphibious assault ship, with hull number 34, was pierside at an undisclosed location in China. Alex Luck, an Australia-based naval analyst, said the warship is "supposedly close to service entry." Finally an image of the fourth Type 075 LHD, based with South Sea Fleet, with her hull number and supposedly close to service entry. — Alex Luck (@AlexLuck9) May 10, 2025 According to the analyst, the currently unnamed ship has been assigned to China's Southern Theater Command, which is responsible for securing the South China Sea and supporting the Eastern Theater Command in military operations against Taiwan, the Pentagon assessed. China operates three Type 075 amphibious assault ships—CNS Hainan, CNS Guangxi, and CNS Anhui—with hull numbers 31, 32, and 33, respectively. These vessels help safeguard the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty, according to the state-run Global Times. In its report on Chinese military power, the Pentagon noted that the "highly capable" Type 075 amphibious assault ship provides China with an "all-aspect expeditionary capability," including the ability to carry landing craft, troops, armored vehicles and helicopters. Regarding the fourth Type 075 amphibious assault ship, the Pentagon's report—released in December 2024—said the ship was launched in 2023 and was expected to be operational the following year. The Chinese military has yet to announce the ship's commissioning date. Aerial view of the Chinese Type 075 amphibious assault ship CNS Hainan moored at Macun Port in Hainan Province of China on April 22, 2025. Aerial view of the Chinese Type 075 amphibious assault ship CNS Hainan moored at Macun Port in Hainan Province of China on April 22, 2025. Luo Yunfei/China News Service/VCG via AP Before commissioning another Type 075 warship, China launched its successor—the Type 076 amphibious assault ship—last December. This "new-generation" naval ship is designed to support flight operations of fixed-wing aircraft using a catapult and arresting system. What People Are Saying Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck said: "Finally an image of the fourth Type 075 [amphibious assault ship], based with South Sea Fleet, with her hull number and supposedly close to service entry." The Pentagon's Chinese military power report read: "The PLAN's newest amphibious ships, the [Type 075 amphibious assault ships] and [Type 071 amphibious transport dock ships], are modern platforms capable of regional and global expeditionary missions in support of wartime and non-war contingency operations singly or as part of capable and flexible task groups composed of multiple amphibious ships and surface combatants." PLAN stands for People's Liberation Army Navy, the official name of the Chinese navy. What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether China will continue building additional Type 075 amphibious assault ships or shift its shipbuilding capacity to the more advanced Type 076 warships.
Newsweek
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
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. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. 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 — 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.
