What Tonga aid mission tells us about China’s military modernisation
- PLA transport planes and warships helped deliver humanitarian supplies to the South Pacific after last month’s volcanic eruption and tsunami
- Analysts say the military has been taking on more non-military responsibilities as part of the overhaul of the armed forces
The relief force involved navy and air force units from the PLA’s Southern Theatre Command and included two Y-20 transport planes and two warships – the Type 071 amphibious landing ship Wuzhishan, and Type 901 fast combat support ship Chaganhu.
The Y-20s delivered 33 tonnes of food, water and equipment such as water purifiers and tents, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Friday.
The distance of more than 10,000km (6,000 miles) covered makes it the longest known overseas mission the planes have conducted, according to former PLA instructor Song Zhongping.
Meanwhile, the two ships, which reached the South Pacific nation on Friday and Sunday, delivered another 1,400 tonnes of relief material including tractors, electricity generators and medical appliances to the country.
The PLA has been expanding its relief missions, including vaccine distribution, as part of China’s efforts to increase its influence over developing countries and cast itself as a responsible global player.
