China Reveals Deployment of Two 10,000-Ton Large Destroyers to Taiwan Strait

Tsinghua Research Center:
"Rising Cross-Strait Tensions,
China's Biggest Geopolitical Risk"

The Chinese People's Liberation Army has revealed that it has deployed two 10,000-ton Type 055 large destroyers for active service in the theater responsible for the Taiwan Strait.

CCTV's flagship news program "Xinwen Lianbo" reported on the evening of March 8 that President Xi Jinping attended the National People's Congress (NPC) session for the People's Liberation Army and the Armed Police delegation. During the broadcast, footage was released showing large destroyers with hull numbers "109" and "110" conducting joint exercises with other vessels.

Chinese state media noted that this was the first time these destroyers had appeared in public, adding that the ships are named Dongguan and Anqing, respectively.

The two destroyers appear to be already in active service, as China assigns hull numbers during the deployment phase. As a result, the number of Type 055 destroyers in China's fleet has increased from eight to ten.

The two newly revealed destroyers are reportedly assigned to the Eastern Theater Command Navy. The Eastern Theater Command is the Chinese military's key region responsible for the Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea.

The Type 055 destroyer is considered the most advanced destroyer in the Chinese Navy. It is equipped with ship-to-air, ship-to-ship, and ship-to-ground missiles, as well as anti-submarine torpedoes, and is regarded as a core asset for aircraft carrier strike groups.

Meanwhile, a leading Chinese think tank has identified the intensifying cross-strait (across the Taiwan Strait, referring to China and Taiwan) tensions as the greatest geopolitical risk facing China this year.

It analyzed that the situation across the Taiwan Strait could become even more unstable due to heightened tensions between China and Japan following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding potential intervention in Taiwan in a contingency, as well as uncertainties surrounding the U.S. midterm elections.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on March 9, the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University stated in its recently released annual report, "China's Outlook on External Security Risks," that "the situation in the Taiwan Strait is the top security risk for China." The report analyzed that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, Japan's hardline stance, and Taiwan's pro-independence moves are all combining to heighten tensions.

The report also projected that "if unexpected variables arise during high-level exchanges between the United States and China in April and May, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te could take provocative actions around the first anniversary of his inauguration on May 20." It further noted that as the U.S. midterm elections approach, there will be greater incentives for American politicians to use the "Taiwan card" more actively.

In addition to cross-strait tensions, the report cited potential clashes between China and Japan, the ongoing risk of U.S.-led decoupling (such as supply chain separation), and the continuing disputes in the South China Sea as major geopolitical risks China faces.

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