China Demonstrated Its Capabilities to Conduct Large-Scale Amphibious Operations During February 2025 Exercise.

On March 4, 2025, the Chinese Ministry of Defense (MoD) released images highlighting a significant maritime training exercise conducted in late February 2025. The exercise involved three key vessels of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy: the amphibious dock landing ship Jinggangshan (Hull 999), the amphibious assault ship Hainan (Hull 31), and the comprehensive supply ship Chaganhu (Hull 905). These ships, part of a naval flotilla under the PLA Southern Theater Command, performed replenishment-at-sea operations, emphasizing the PLA's ongoing efforts to enhance its amphibious warfare and logistical capabilities.
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The amphibious dock landing ship Jinggangshan (Hull 999), amphibious assault ship Hainan (Hull 31), and comprehensive supply ship Chaganhu (Hull 905) from a naval flotilla under the PLA Southern Theater Command conduct replenishment-at-sea during a maritime training exercise in late February 2025. (Picture source: China MoD)

The training exercise, which took place in the strategically sensitive waters of the South China Sea, focused on the integration of multiple naval assets for large-scale amphibious operations. The event is particularly significant given the growing tensions between China and Taiwan, with China increasingly preparing for potential contingencies in the Taiwan Strait and beyond.

The Jinggangshan, a Type 071 amphibious dock landing ship, played a pivotal role in the exercise. With a displacement of approximately 20,000 tons and a length of 210 meters, the Jinggangshan is designed to support amphibious landings by carrying up to 800 soldiers, as well as heavy equipment such as tanks and armored vehicles. Its well deck is capable of launching a variety of amphibious landing craft, including air-cushioned landing craft (LCACs), which are essential for delivering troops and vehicles directly onto hostile shorelines. The ship’s flight deck further enhances its versatility, allowing for the deployment of helicopters like the Z-8 or Z-20, providing aerial support and logistical resupply in areas that may be difficult to access by conventional means. These capabilities are critical for rapid power projection, especially in the contested waters around Taiwan.

The Hainan, a Type 075 amphibious assault ship, offers even greater operational flexibility. At 250 meters long and displacing 40,000 tons, the Hainan is one of the largest amphibious assault ships in the world. It can carry up to 1,000 troops, 30 amphibious landing craft, and 6 to 8 helicopters, allowing it to launch coordinated assaults using both air and sea assets. The ship's ability to carry heavy artillery and mechanized forces makes it an ideal platform for sustained amphibious operations. Additionally, its large flight deck supports heavy-lift helicopters like the Z-8, enabling rapid troop deployment and providing crucial air support for ground forces. These capabilities make the Hainan an indispensable asset in any large-scale amphibious assault, particularly one involving difficult-to-reach or heavily defended coastal areas, such as Taiwan.

The Chaganhu, a comprehensive supply ship, also played a crucial role in the exercise by conducting replenishment-at-sea operations. This logistical support is vital for extending the operational reach of both the Jinggangshan and the Hainan, ensuring that they can remain on station for extended periods without the need to return to port for resupply. The Chaganhu is designed to carry fuel, ammunition, food, and other supplies, allowing the flotilla to operate continuously in maritime environments, even in areas where access to shore-based logistics would be limited or contested. This capability is particularly important for maintaining a sustained military presence in regions like the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

This joint operation underscores the PLA Navy’s increasing focus on integrating its amphibious assets for a wide range of operations, from initial landings to sustained occupation. By combining the capabilities of the Jinggangshan, Hainan, and Chaganhu, the PLA demonstrates its growing ability to conduct complex amphibious assaults, with a focus on rapid deployment, heavy equipment insertion, and logistical sustainment.

The timing of the exercise, conducted just months before the release of these images, is highly significant. Tensions over Taiwan remain at the forefront of China’s military planning. The South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait are areas of intense geopolitical competition, with Beijing asserting its territorial claims in the region. As such, the PLA’s emphasis on amphibious warfare is seen as part of its broader strategy to prepare for a potential conflict over Taiwan. The ability to launch a swift, large-scale amphibious assault could be critical in any scenario involving the island, where the PLA would need to quickly establish control over coastal areas, while preventing intervention from foreign powers like the United States.

The PLA Southern Theater Command, responsible for operations in the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and surrounding areas, has been at the forefront of these preparations. With an increasing focus on amphibious training and operational readiness, the command aims to enhance China’s ability to rapidly respond to any escalation in the Taiwan Strait. The release of these images further highlights Beijing's commitment to ensuring its military forces are prepared for a range of contingencies, including amphibious landings in contested areas.

China's ongoing investment in amphibious warfare capabilities is reshaping the regional security landscape. The presence of ships like the Jinggangshan and Hainan enables the PLA to project power in critical maritime regions, particularly in scenarios involving Taiwan. These exercises also send a clear signal to Taiwan and its allies about China’s growing military capabilities and its readiness to enforce its territorial claims. While Beijing maintains that military action would only occur in response to Taiwanese moves toward independence or foreign intervention, the frequency and scale of these exercises raise concerns about the potential for conflict in the Taiwan Strait.

As tensions in the region continue to rise, the PLA's focus on amphibious warfare and its ability to conduct large-scale operations is likely to be a key factor in future security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. The growing capabilities of China’s amphibious forces highlight the importance of maintaining a military edge in these contested waters, particularly as the geopolitical balance continues to shift. The PLA Navy’s enhanced readiness for amphibious operations could significantly influence the future trajectory of China-Taiwan relations, with far-reaching implications for regional and global security.