China's People's Liberation Army Navy recently demonstrated its growing blue-water capabilities during a formation drill featuring the Type 055 destroyer, currently regarded as the Chinese mainland's most advanced surface combatant. CGTN's exclusive footage from the December 2025 exercise reveals crews coordinating anti-submarine warfare simulations and missile defense systems in the Philippine Sea.
The 12,000-ton guided-missile destroyer represents a key component of China's naval modernization program, which has accelerated significantly this year. Analysts note the vessel's integrated mast design and 112-cell vertical launch system enable simultaneous air defense, anti-ship, and land-attack operations – critical capabilities for protecting maritime interests across Asia's strategic waterways.
"This year's drills emphasize network-centric warfare readiness," said naval analyst Zhang Wei, speaking to KhabarAsia. "The Type 055's ability to serve as a command hub for carrier strike groups marks a strategic shift toward safeguarding trade routes and maintaining regional stability."
While defense officials emphasize the exercises focus on self-defense capabilities, regional observers note the December drills coincided with increased multinational naval activity in Southeast Asian waters. The Navy's latest white paper, published earlier this month, reaffirms commitments to peaceful development while modernizing forces for "diversified military tasks."
