The aircraft carrier Shandong (left) is followed by a Type 075 amphibious assault ship in a far seas combat exercise of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in the South China Sea and the West Pacific waters in the summer of 2024. Photo: Screenshot from China Central Television

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's Type 075 amphibious assault ship for the first time joined the aircraft carrier Shandong in a recent far seas exercise. Observers believe that this combination will play a crucial role in safeguarding China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights, and development interests, particularly on key issues such as the Taiwan question and the South China Sea.

According to a regularly scheduled annual training plan, the PLA Navy's Shandong aircraft carrier group recently conducted a round-the-clock far seas combat exercise covering waters in the South China Sea and the West Pacific. The carrier group enhanced its combat capabilities in distant waters by conducting coordination and command trainings under various combat scenarios, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday.

The CCTV report showed that the Shandong aircraft carrier group featured not only vessels including the Type 055 large destroyer, the Type 052D destroyer and the Type 901 comprehensive replenishment ship that frequently escorted PLA aircraft carriers in the past, but also, apparently for the first time revealed in an official report, a Type 075 amphibious assault ship.

Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff separately reported the presence of the aircraft carrier Shandong in the West Pacific waters from August 12 to 13 and the entry of a Type 075 amphibious assault ship into the region on August 17. It is unclear when and where exactly the two flattops joined force, observers said.

The integration of amphibious assault ships in aircraft carrier groups reflects the concept of systematic amphibious combat, a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Tuesday.

As the aircraft carrier and its escorts claim air superiority and control of the sea, amphibious forces get the chance to safely host landing operations, the expert said, noting that the combination can safeguard China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and development interests when deployed in regions such as the South China Sea and West Pacific waters to the east of the island of Taiwan.