China ramps up naval base works to accommodate rapidly growing fleet

Satellite imagery shows expanded infrastructure at three bases and ships berthed close together to maximise space

The PLA Navy is expected to have more than 600 warships in service this year but construction of piers has lagged behind

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Satellite imagery of the Yulin naval base at Sanya in southern China shows new construction and expansion projects have started in the past year. Source: Google Earth

Published: 10:00pm, 9 Jul 2023

China has upgraded its naval bases to house and support its rapidly expanding combat fleet, according to analysis of recent satellite imagery.

The PLA Navy – the world’s second largest after the United States – is expected to launch at least 10 surface combatants by the end of this year, including eight Type 052D destroyers and two of the bigger and faster Type 054B frigates, with a total displacement of 72,000 tonnes.

The new vessels will join China’s two active aircraft carriers, which together make up 120,000 tonnes, eight Type 055 cruisers at nearly 100,000 tonnes, and three giant Type 075 landing helicopter docks and nine Type 071 amphibious transport docks. All were brought into service over the past 15 years.

With the total number of active warships expected to increase this year to more than 600 warships – triple the number from two decades ago – the People’s Liberation Army has conscripted thousands of retired sailors to crew them.

But the construction of more and bigger piers has been lagging behind the speed at which new vessels are launched – something described by military enthusiasts as “dumping dumplings into soup”.

Satellite imagery from Google Earth and Maxar Technologies has revealed new construction at three naval bases.

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