World Affairs Forum
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on February 21 initiated live fire drills in international waters off the coast of New South Wales, Australia, with the Type 055 destroyerZunyi leading a small flotilla alongside the Type 054A frigate Hengyang, and the Type 903 replenishment ship Weishanhu. Australia and New Zealand have both deployed military assets, including P-8A maritime patrol planes, to monitor the warships, which exercised approximately 650 kilometres southeast of Sydney. “This is activity that has occurred in waters consistent with international law,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented, adding: “There has been no imminent risk of danger to any Australian assets or New Zealand assets.”
China has increased destroyer and bomber operations near the United States and Australia, which is viewed as a response to both countries and other Western Bloc states’ exercises near and often inside Chinese claimed territories. While Chinese bombers and aircraft carriers in service lack the long reaches of their American counterparts, the country is considered to have achieved clear primacy in the capabilities of its destroyers. The Type 055’s presence represents a major show of force, with the ship class widely considered by Western sources to represent the world’s most capable class of surface combatant. The ship class’ capabilities have continued to be rapidly improved, and in April 2022 Type 055s began being used for flight testing of the new YJ-21 hypersonic ballistic missile, which is currently considered the most capable anti-ship missile class deployed by warships anywhere in the world.
China has increased destroyer and bomber operations near the United States and Australia, which is viewed as a response to both countries and other Western Bloc states’ exercises near and often inside Chinese claimed territories. While Chinese bombers and aircraft carriers in service lack the long reaches of their American counterparts, the country is considered to have achieved clear primacy in the capabilities of its destroyers. The Type 055’s presence represents a major show of force, with the ship class widely considered by Western sources to represent the world’s most capable class of surface combatant. The ship class’ capabilities have continued to be rapidly improved, and in April 2022 Type 055s began being used for flight testing of the new YJ-21 hypersonic ballistic missile, which is currently considered the most capable anti-ship missile class deployed by warships anywhere in the world.
