Chinese navy sails new destroyers in South China Sea amid military shipbuilding spree
- Type 052D guided missile destroyer the Nanning is the third of its class to enter service this year
- So rapid is the Chinese navy’s expansion, it is running out of big cities to name the warships after
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China’s most advanced amphibious assault ship likely to be deployed in disputed South China Sea
The Nanning, bearing hull number 162, was photographed joining Type 901 comprehensive supply ship Chaganhu and Type 071 amphibious dock landing ship Qilianshan of the PLA Southern Theatre Command to carry out a drill in disputed waters that are also claimed by five other nations.
“After gaining combat capabilities, the South China Sea-based Nanning will play an important role in safeguarding China’s territorial integrity, national sovereignty and development interests,” the state-run Global Times said.
The Nanning was reportedly commissioned in April at Zhanjiang port in Guangdong province and is the third of its class to enter service in 2021, following the Suzhou and the Huainan, bringing the number of Type 052D vessels in service to 18.