Two Type 075 amphibious assault ships of PLA Navy, the Guangxi and the Hainan, sail in formation at an undisclosed sea region in 2022. Photo: Screenshot of a video released by the PLA Navy.

Overseas media has reported that China recently launched its fourth Type 075 amphibious assault ship, a type of vessel which is believed to be able to not only safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity in regions like the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea, but also sail to far seas and carry out non-military operations such as international humanitarian aid.

A launch ceremony for the ship was held at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai on Thursday, Russia's Sputnik news agency reported on Saturday. 

The event marked the completion of the main construction, as the ship was moved out of dry dock and placed on the outfitting quay for remaining work, Sputnik said. 

Citing photos circulating on social media platforms, some media outlets on the island of Taiwan also covered the launch event, quoting analysts as saying that Type 075s are designed to enhance the vertical amphibious landing capabilities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) along the island's mountainous eastern coast.

No official statement has been made concerning the reported launch of the fourth Type 075 as of press time.

Starting with the launch of the PLA Navy's first Type 075 in September 2019, a total of three ships in this class have entered service, namely the Hainan, the Guangxi and the Anhui.

Building multiple Type 075s indicates that the PLA has a high demand for amphibious assault ships, and that this ship type is considered mature, a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Sunday.

With a straight flight deck and a hangar-like well deck, the Type 075 can carry helicopters, air cushioned landing craft and amphibious armored vehicles in multidimensional landing operations, China Central Television reported previously.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times that the Type 075 amphibious assault ship can carry more helicopters than the PLA Navy's Type 071 comprehensive landing ship, so it has stronger vertical landing capabilities.

If the situation demands, Type 075s can carry out missions in regions like the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea, Song said.

In addition to its roles in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Type 075 amphibious assault ships can also take advantage of their large loading capacity and landing capability to carry out non-military operations, including providing international humanitarian aid to disaster-stricken regions around the world and conducting the evacuation of nationals in case of regional instability, experts said.