Two of China's Latest Large Missile Destroyers Sailing... Targeting 'Pelosi and Taiwan'

Two Type 055 Destroyers Appear in Waters Near Taiwan

Chinese Type 055 destroyer. Photo by CCTV capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Two of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy's latest large missile destroyers have appeared in waters near Taiwan, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency and other local media.

According to reports, around 2 a.m. that day, a Chinese Type 055 destroyer appeared in waters 37 nautical miles (approximately 69 km) from Hualien Port on Taiwan's east coast. In response, the Taiwanese military immediately began surveillance.

Then, around 4 a.m., another Type 055 destroyer was spotted by the Taiwanese military heading north in waters 45 nautical miles (approximately 83 km) from Orchid Island in southeastern Taiwan.

The fourth-generation Type 055 destroyer is the latest destroyer operated by the Chinese navy and is also known as the Nanchang-class cruiser. Equipped with fleet air defense, anti-ship, land-attack missiles, and anti-submarine torpedoes, it is regarded as a core force of China's next aircraft carrier strike group.

The Chinese navy first commissioned the 10,000-ton Type 055 destroyer Nanchang in January 2020, followed by the commissioning of the Lhasa and Dalian ships last year.

Earlier, the Chinese military announced that it would conduct joint military operations around Taiwan starting from the night of August 2, the day Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, arrived in Taiwan.

Furthermore, from 12 p.m. on August 4 to 12 p.m. on August 7, the Chinese military declared it would conduct live-fire military exercises in six maritime and air zones around Taiwan and notified that aircraft and vessels should not enter these zones during the training period.

Meanwhile, during a joint press conference with Speaker Pelosi that day, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen emphasized that "China's military exercises are an unnecessary response" and stated, "Taiwan is committed to maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.