A large landing ship and two landing craft utility held integration training for amphibious landing missions in an undisclosed region in the East China Sea in February 2022. Photo: Sina Weibo account of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently conducted landing drills featuring a new type of utility landing craft in the East China Sea, with observers saying on Thursday that this kind of craft can carry armored vehicles and troops, and complement air cushioned landing craft in large-scale landing missions.

A large landing ship and two utility landing craft affiliated with a landing ship detachment attached to the PLA Eastern Theater Command Navy recently conducted an integration training for amphibious landing mission in an undisclosed region in the East China Sea, the PLA Eastern Theater Command announced on its Sina Weibo account. 

The drills put the small landing craft's realistic scenario combat capabilities to test by practicing multiple courses over a long distance and time, the command said, noting that this enhanced the force's ability to win battles.

The craft seems like a new one, observers said, citing photos attached to the Sina Weibo post, which did not give further details.

While the specifications of the new landing craft remain unknown, utility landing craft are generally used to carry tanks, armored vehicles, troops and equipment from larger landing ships to beaches or ports in amphibious landing missions, a military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Thursday.

Compared to air cushioned landing craft, which can land on tougher terrain, utility landing craft have higher requirements for landing grounds, but they are often cost-friendlier than air cushioned landing craft, meaning that more can be produced, the expert said.

Both types of craft can play important roles in large-scale landing missions, the expert said.

In response to media hype on the island of Taiwan on recent PLA drills near the island, Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of National Defense, said at a regular press conference on Thursday that the PLA's operations near aerial and maritime regions around the island of Taiwan featuring multiple military service branches and multiple waves of vessels and aircraft aim at hitting "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces' arrogance and secessionist actions.

As long as "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces do not stop making provocations, the PLA cannot and will not stop taking actions to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Tan said.