Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One martyr and two injured in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a motorcycle in the town of Mahrouna
Al Mayadeen correspondent to Southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle between the towns of Jwayya and Mahrouna.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyred in the Israeli drone strike on a car in the town of Kawnin
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone targets a car in the town of Kawnin
Naeini: If our national interests are attacked again, our response this time will be stronger and more destructive
Naeini: The war has proven that the settlers are defenseless against Iranian missile and drone forces
Naeini: Trump lacks an understanding of the true strength of the Iranian people and is so deluded as to believe he can change the reality of Iran's victory
Naeini: The defeat led to Trump's confusion and loss of balance, which was reflected in his ill-considered statements

Chinese navy's biggest destroyer leads Yellow Sea combat drills

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 16 May 2022 16:26
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

After the USS Zumwalt, the PLA Navy's Lhasa is regarded as the world's second most powerful destroyer.

  • x
  • Chinese navy's biggest destroyer leads Yellow Sea combat drills
    Chinese navy's biggest destroyer leads Yellow Sea combat drills

The Chinese navy's biggest destroyer led three corvettes in a combined services exercise in the Yellow Sea, a novel "high-low mix" drill designed to simulate military clashes with weaker regional counterparts, according to analysts.

The Lhasa, a Type 055 stealth-guided missile destroyer and the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) largest and most modern warship of its kind, recently completed a series of assessment drills with three Type 056A corvettes in the Yellow Sea, according to the official broadcaster CCTV.

According to the agency, they conducted three days of air defense, anti-ship, and anti-submarine drills. Other surface vessels, submarines, early-warning planes, and helicopters also participated in the exercise to mimic battle situations.

The PLA Navy's second Type 055 destroyer, the Lhasa, was deemed battle-ready in January. With a displacement of 12,000 tonnes, it is considered the world's second most powerful destroyer behind the USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000).

Meanwhile, the 1,440-tonne Type 056A corvette is an anti-submarine warfare derivative of Type 056.

The drills were designed to evaluate the capabilities of several types of warships in a difficult electromagnetic environment, according to CCTV.

Zhou Chenming, a researcher from the Yuan Wang military science and technology think tank, explained that “joint exercises between the Type 055 and Type 056A could be very complicated and challenging because of the involvement of many new technologies and tactics in modern naval combat."

Between 2017 and 2020, China launched eight Type 055 destroyers, as well as around 70 Type 056 and 056A vessels.

Related News

DPRK flexes military might with strategic cruise missile drill

Australian PM says China jet over region 'unacceptable', risks danger

The first Type 055 entered service just last year, while the first anti-submarine corvette, a light frigate, was commissioned in 2014. Both ships are innovative in design and include cutting-edge technology such as electronic warfare systems.

The high-low mix practice in the Yellow Sea, which pitted a massive and modern vessel against a comparatively inferior and smaller one, might have been designed to replicate confrontations with less powerful navies, according to a Taiwan-based expert.

Lu Li-shih, a former instructor at Taiwan’s Naval Academy in Kaohsiung said, “It’s interesting that the training group put the largest destroyer and small corvettes together, and I believe the PLA has some specific purpose [behind it],” adding “I suspect the PLA is trying to use the Type 056A to train the Type 055 in potential confrontations with other small counterparts in the East and South China seas, including Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines, which have small warships similar to the Chinese corvettes.”

The Type 056 is designed for mid-range green-water missions and coastal responsibilities, rather than blue-water or high seas combat operations.

However, Macau-based military analyst Antony Wong Tong highlighted that the PLA Navy has been deploying the tiny ships to participate in high seas training with the backing of a massive supply ship since last summer to strengthen ocean battle preparedness.

“The Type 056 is too small and can’t sail too far because of its limited fuel, but the three Type 056A corvettes have been able to sail over 6,700 nautical miles under the help of a Type 903 supply ship,” he said.

The maneuvers in the Yellow Sea came only days after China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, led a larger-than-usual strike group to train in the western Pacific, amid escalating tensions over Taiwan, particularly with the United States and Japan.

Last week, fighter planes and helicopters aboard the Liaoning performed more than 100 take-offs and landings near Okinawa, according to the Japanese Ministry of Defense.

Military drills have been a common approach for China to display might and commitment whenever tensions have risen over Taiwan.

Beijing has condemned a visit to Taiwan by US senators last month as "provocative", as well as former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's backing for Taipei.

  • yellow sea
  • South China Sea
  • China

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli occupation soldiers search for settlers amid the rubble of buildings destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, central occupied Palestine, on Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran missile strike flattens Bat Yam, displaces 2,000 settlers

Palestinian fighters from the Islamic Jihad militant group riding on a truck with weaponry on display take part in an anti-Israel parade marking the 36th anniversary of the movement's founding, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian Resistance attacks Israeli forces in Khan Younis, Jabalia

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stands waiting to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran suspends IAEA cooperation, Araghchi blames Grossi for attacks

The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS