China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy has launched its first amphibious assault ship under the Type 076 class, the “Sichuan.”
With a full-load displacement of over 40,000 tons, a double island superstructure, and a full-length flight deck, the Sichuan is considered Beijing’s largest naval vessel.
Aside from carrying fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, it can also launch fighter jets due to its electromagnetic catapult and arrestor technologies.
The Sichuan will undergo a series of tests and sea trials following its unveiling ceremony.
‘Two Oceans, Three Seas’
The ship’s size and capabilities enable the Chinese naval forces to extend its presence in distant seas, aligning with its “two oceans, three seas” strategy, said Su Tzu-yun, a fellow from the Taiwanese Institute for National Defense and Security Research.
The strategy refers to Beijing’s objective to extend its influence in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean in addition to the East China Sea, South China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait to secure its territorial and economic interests.
Meanwhile, former Pentagon official and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies senior fellow Drew Thompson told VOA that the Sichuan’s launch was meant “to intimidate neighbors or ensure the PLA has the capability to land a large invasion force on Taiwan.”