PLA to deploy its largest supply ship to South China Sea
The Qiandaohu, one of China's Type 903A supply ships. (Internet photo)
The People's Liberation Army Navy is set to deploy at least one of its Type 903A comprehensive supply ships to the disputed South China Sea to strengthen its force projection capability in the area, reports China's nationalistic Global Times tabloid.
China recently launched its fifth and largest Type 903A supply ship, the Fuchi, on May 31 in Guangzhou in southern China's Guangdong province. With the capability to carry 11,000 tonnes of cargo, the 23,000-tonne Type 903A can provide fuel and rations to Chinese warships operating in the open sea. It can fuel two warships simultaneously during the operation, while it can also carry two Z-8 helicopters, which can be used to airdrop supplies to other vessels.
Two Type 903A supply ships — the Weishanhu and Qiandaohu — are currently stationed in the Gulf of Aden as part of the Chinese escort mission in the region. Meanwhile, two Type 903As have been assigned to the PLA's East Sea Fleet, the Global Times said, adding that as the Fuchi was launched from Guangzhou and it is thus likely that the vessel will begin its service with the South Sea Fleet.
Combined with Type 052D guided-missile destroyers, the deployment of Fuchi to the region will make the South Sea Fleet a more dangerous threat to the Vietnamese and Philippine navies. Both Vietnam and the Philippines are engaged in territorial disputes with China over the contested region.
Meanwhile, the Global Times said that if China commissions more Type 903A ships, the PLA Navy would be capable of penetrating the Second Island Chain — composed of the Bonin Islands, Marianas Islands and Caroline Islands; from the Kuril Islands through to New Guinea.
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