Amid tensions with the Philippines in the region, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China deployed several of its most modern missile destroyers in exercises conducted in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. According to reports from state-affiliated media of the Asian Giant, this demonstration of naval capabilities took place in early May, while combined activities between the Navies of the Philippines, the United States, and Australia were also recorded.
As reported by China’s State Television (CCTV), from late April to early May, the People’s Liberation Army Navy has been conducting various exercises in the South China Sea, involving various types of guided missile destroyers, including the most modern Type 055.
To provide an overview of the activities, at the end of April, a naval formation led by the Type 055 destroyer Xianyang was recorded, which conducted patrols and exercises in various locations in the South China Sea, extending its activity to the eastern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.
Subsequently, in early May, other groups of destroyers also conducted exercises. This latter exercise drew attention from Philippine media, as the Type 055 destroyer Dalian was detected transiting the Sibutu Passage, which is a channel connecting the Sulu Sea with the Sulawesi Sea, also an important transit route for international trade between the Pacific and the Indian Ocean, typically used for international navigation.
Lastly, as reported by CCTV last Wednesday, a significant formation of Chinese destroyers, consisting of units of the Type 052C class (Haikou) and Type 052D (Kunming), along with the Type 054A missile frigate Xianning and the Type 055 destroyer Zunyi, also conducted exercises in the South China Sea. According to the Global Times, these exercises included “…courses on anti-ship, anti-aircraft, and anti-submarine tasks, laying a solid foundation for flexible military maneuvers and facing complex situations.”
These activities of the People’s Liberation Army Navy also coincide with the conduct of Exercise Balikatan 2024, in which naval forces from the Philippines, the United States, and Australia are participating. During one of the days of these activities, the launch of a C-Star anti-ship missile by a Philippine missile frigate was recorded, while intense naval and aerial activities were also observed.
*Photographs: Nakim Nuruddin Nakano.
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