China this week deployed a naval fleet led by the Type 075 amphibious assault ship to the Philippine Sea, triggering a swift response from Australia.
Canberra deployed a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft to track the flotilla, which nine months ago raised security concerns after a Chinese People’s Liberation Army fleet made an unprecedented circumnavigation of the Australian mainland.
US satellite images, first reported by Australian media on Wednesday, confirmed the presence of a Chinese warship and a nearby helicopter.
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According to these images, three of the four Chinese Navy ships were identified by their hull numbers: the Type 075 amphibious assault ship Hainan, the Type 055 destroyer Yan’an, and the Type 903A supply ship Luoma Hu.
The images also show that the Hainan ship disbanded the formation and sailed away, while destroyers and supply ships conducted replenishment operations.
Hainan is China’s first 40,000-ton take-off and landing helicopter dock, which will be put into use in 2021. The fourth Type 075 “Hubei” was put into service in August and has recently completed exercises elsewhere.
New Zealand company Starboard Maritime Intelligence said on Tuesday that the Chinese fleet was operating 300 miles (483 kilometers) east of the Philippines, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported this week.
Australian Defense Force (ADF) Commander Adm. David Johnston said on Wednesday that the Australian military had deployed a P-8 to monitor the flotilla, which was spotted about 500 nautical miles (926 kilometers) north of Palau on Tuesday evening local time.
Johnston also said it’s unclear where the task force might go next. In June, he said Australia had seen an increased Chinese naval presence in its immediate area in recent years and expected the People’s Liberation Army to expand its deployment in the region.
The current fleet comes about nine months after a rare live-fire exercise involving a Chinese task force led by the Type 055 destroyer Zunyi in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand. The fleet also conducted a circumnavigation of Australia, which included sailing near a strategically sensitive defense installation near Western Australia.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marlers said on Monday that the Australian Defense Force had been tracking the People’s Liberation Army fleet.
“We don’t know where it’s going to go, but we’re going to continue to monitor it,” he said.
China’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that People’s Liberation Army Navy ships always operate at sea in accordance with international law, while the Ministry of Defense said last week that many Chinese ships are currently performing missions in different locations.
The current fleet size is larger than the February operation led by Zunyi, They also include the Type 054A frigate “Hengyang” and the Type 903 supply ship Weishanhu.
It is rare for a PLA destroyer to sail near Australian waters. Previously, a Chinese destroyer paid a goodwill visit to Sydney Harbor in 2019.
The Type 075 Hubei ship entered service on August 1. Picture: CCTV alt=075 Hubei ship entered service on August 1. Picture: CCTV>
The four naval fleets currently operating in the Philippine Sea seem to have different mission objectives, because its lead ship is a Type 075 amphibious warship, designed to project power from the sea to the shore, which is a key capability for island landing missions.
The PLA Navy has four Type 075 ships. On Tuesday, the Chinese military released images of the Hubei ship conducting what it called “high-intensity, multi-subject training” at an undisclosed location, adding that it was leading a naval formation to improve combat capabilities.
China currently has the world’s largest navy with more than 370 ships and submarines, including three aircraft carriers, allowing the navy to reach farther across the Pacific.
China is also testing the Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan, the first new-generation ship equipped with an electromagnetic catapult.
This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, explore the SCMP app or visit SCMP on Facebook and twitter Page. Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.
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