China’s PLA offers details on live-fire Pacific drills led by Type 055 destroyer Zunyi

CCTV report citing PLA Navy comes days after exercises in the Tasman Sea prompted monitoring by Australia and New Zealand

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The names of the three vessels in the PLA Navy flotilla match those in reports referring to Chinese exercises last week that raised concerns in Canberra and Wellington and triggered a diplomatic row with Beijing. Photo: CCTV

Published: 5:47pm, 25 Feb 2025Updated: 9:34pm, 25 Feb 2025

The Chinese navy targeted aerial and maritime threats in a series of live-fire combat-readiness drills in the Pacific, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Tuesday, as a diplomatic row with Australia and New Zealand over military exercises rumbled on.

Without disclosing the exact area of operation, the report said the People’s Liberation Army exercise included coordination and resupply operations, underscoring improved joint operational abilities.

The report comes days after live-fire PLA Navy drills in the Tasman Sea put Australia and New Zealand on alert, prompting dozens of commercial flight diversions and naval monitoring by both countries.

According to the CCTV report, the naval task group was led by the Type 055 stealth guided-missile destroyer Zunyi, and included the Type 054A frigate Hengyang and the Type 903 replenishment vessel Weishanhu.

While the report did not give a specific location or time for the drill, the names of the three vessels match those in reports referring to PLA Navy exercises last week that raised concerns in Canberra and Wellington and triggered a diplomatic row with Beijing.

It said the exercises spanned several days in challenging sea conditions, and involved training in command execution, weapons operation and coordinated manoeuvres.