Type 075 amphibious assault ship, the PLA ‘light aircraft carrier’ key to Taiwan strategy

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Amber WangJanuary 19, 2026 at 09:06 AM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

China's Type 075 amphibious assault ship, the Hainan, was highly active in December, signaling its importance in potential military operations, particularly concerning Taiwan. The Hainan participated in large-scale PLA military drills around Taiwan for the first time and was tracked by Australia in the Philippine Sea. Commissioned in 2021, the Hainan is the first of four Type 075 ships designed to transport landing craft, troops, vehicles, and helicopters, forming the core of the PLA Navy's amphibious capabilities. The Type 075 is considered a "light aircraft carrier" by Chinese media. China is also developing the Type 076, a potential drone carrier, to further expand its amphibious capabilities.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Canberra 40% Australia 40% Type 076 amphibious assault ship 40% Philippine Sea 50% PLA Navy 60% Beijing 60% China ×270% Hainan ×370% Taiwan ×280% People's Liberation Army (PLA) ×280% Type 075 amphibious assault ship ×490%

Keywords

amphibious assault ship 100% type 075 90% pla navy 80% taiwan 80% military drills 70% hainan 60% amphibious capability 60% light aircraft carrier 50% philippine sea 50% type 076 40%