Opinion | China’s Type 075 assault ship sails into the South China Sea with a message from Beijing

The trial voyage last month of this yet-to-be-commissioned addition to China’s naval fleet, followed soon after by exercises of three Type 071 ships, would not have escaped the notice of East and Southeast Asian states with whom China has maritime disputes

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Published: 9:15am, 7 Dec 2020Updated: 10:32am, 7 Dec 2020

Of all the developments in China’s capability, none have captured global attention more than its nascent aircraft carrier fleet. But another major naval project that is just coming to fruition is perhaps of even greater concern to China’s rivals, particularly East and Southeast Asian states.

That project – known as the Type 075 landing helicopter dock (LHD) – will be the largest vessel beyond China’s aircraft carriers when it is commissioned into service, probably next year.

An LHD is an immensely powerful ship, a type of amphibious assault vessel that is designed to enable landings and littoral warfare in contested spaces. To achieve this, an LHD is able to host a fleet of attack and transport helicopters – up to 30 in the case of the Type 075 – as well as vessels and troops that can be launched while at sea.

Last month, China’s first Type 075 underwent sea trials in the South China Sea. Satellite imagery analysed by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington DC, suggested that the vessel had sailed into the disputed waters with an escort of five vessels for its second round of trials. The first round took place in August, off the coast of Shanghai, on the vessel’s maiden voyage.

The sailing of the Type 075 through the South China Sea can be seen as an assertive diplomatic move, but it was made all the more significant by the fact that it was quickly followed by another exercise in the sea. Just over a week after the Type 075 voyage, China also sent three Type 071 amphibious dock landing ships (landing platform docks or LPDs) to the South China Sea for exercises.