South China Sea: PLA tests its landing ships amid tension with Philippines over islands
- Type 072 and Type 073 vessels practised berthing and rescue in exercise that also assessed anti-drone capabilities
The People’s Liberation Army has conducted drills in the South China Sea featuring landing ships amid tensions over disputed islands with the Philippines.
A naval task force comprising landing ships Danxiashan, Laotieshan and Lushan conducted an all-weather full-course combat exercise over four days in the South China Sea, according to a report by CCTV on Saturday. The state broadcaster only said the drills were carried out “recently” and did not specify when they took place.
Training tasks included two ships berthing alongside each other and rescue practice, the report said.
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The fleet also carried out air-defence training during which the “enemy’s” drones were forced to move away after multiple rounds of fire by the task force, according to video in the CCTV report.
Danxiashan, a Type 072 III tank landing ship, also carried out a cover mission to other warships by releasing smoke, the video showed.
The drills tested the Chinese navy’s emergency response and coordinated combat capabilities, it said.
Lushan is a Type 073A landing ship, according to public information. Landing ships are designed to support amphibious operations by transporting and deploying troops, vehicles and supplies onto hostile shores.
