On July 3, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Shandong aircraft carrier and three escort vessels made a public appearance in Hong Kong. Xinhua News Agency repeatedly reported on the event in an attempt to praise and promote them, but exposed many flaws, once again embarrassing the PLA Navy.
The Xinhua News Agency reported on July 3 “Navy Shandong Carrier Battle Group Arrives in Hong Kong”, stating that the aircraft carrier Shandong, missile destroyer Yan’an, missile frigate Zhanjiang, and missile escort ship Yuncheng have started a 5-day visit to Hong Kong. Subsequently, they reported “Insights into the Shandong Carrier Battle Group Visiting Hong Kong”, providing brief introductions to the four warships, but it seemed relatively low-key.
According to the article, the Yan’an, with the hull number 106, is a 055 type missile destroyer with a maximum displacement of over 10,000 tons. It is characterized by strong stealth, good navigability, long endurance, and high level of automation, with comprehensive combat capabilities reaching world-class levels.
The 055 destroyer is China’s newest destroyer, designed to counter the U.S. and Japanese Aegis destroyers. The PLA currently has 8 in active service and 6 under construction. Xinhua only mentioned its stealth, navigability, endurance, and automation level, but did not discuss key performance aspects such as air defense, anti-submarine, anti-ship capabilities, only stating that its comprehensive combat capabilities “reach” world-class levels, which seems like a vague description.
Following the usual exaggerated style of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Xinhua should have described the 055 destroyer as “leading” the world, but this time they only said it “reaches” world-class levels. This implies an acknowledgment that the performance of the 055 destroyer is not the most advanced in the world. The U.S. Burke-class 10,000-ton destroyer represents the current world-class level, similar to the destroyers recently built by Japan and South Korea. The CCP likely knows that the 055 still has shortcomings. Xinhua didn’t mention key performance aspects, only vaguely stating that the comprehensive combat capabilities “reach” world-class levels, but probably no single key indicator can truly match the U.S. Aegis destroyers.
The 055 destroyer is the only CCP warship that Xinhua can boast about, as the other three vessels were not labeled as “reaching” world-class levels.
Xinhua’s article describes the Zhanjiang, with the hull number 165, as a 052D type missile destroyer, the navy’s main combat ship, with good stealth capabilities and strong early warning capabilities, and outstanding comprehensive combat capability.
The party media did not dare to claim that the 052D destroyer also “reaches” world-class levels, continuing to neglect crucial aspects such as air defense, anti-submarine, anti-ship capabilities. They only mentioned stealth and early warning capabilities, with the final evaluation being “outstanding” comprehensive combat capabilities.
The 052D destroyer is still a transitional product imitating U.S. destroyers, with a displacement of 7,500 tons, not reaching 10,000 tons. The 052D is an improved type based on the early 052C prototype. When construction began in 2012, China did not yet have the capability to produce 10,000-ton destroyers.
Xinhua’s report essentially acknowledges that the 052D destroyer is not advanced enough. However, prior to the 055 destroyer, there were no better options for China, so they had to continually receive mass-produced 052D destroyers, becoming the mainstay of the PLA Navy. With 29 in active service, 1 about to enter service, and 8 under construction, Xinhua has left the PLA Navy facing an embarrassing situation.
The article further describes the Yuncheng, with the hull number 571, as a 054A type missile frigate with strong comprehensive combat capabilities.
The party media’s evaluation of the 054A frigate is lower than that of the 052D destroyer. With 40 054A frigates in active service and 6 under construction, the improved 054B has been commissioned with 2 vessels and is expected to gradually replace the 054A. The 054A is often deployed as an aircraft carrier escort ship, venturing beyond the first island chain.
With its 32-unit vertical launch system, the 054A can only carry HQ-16 air defense missiles and anti-submarine rockets, indicating weak air defense capabilities with a displacement of about 4,000 tons and limited range. It should primarily operate in near-sea defense missions. The 054A is likely to be used by the CCP as cannon fodder, taking on the role of a missile speedboat, but its slower speed compared to destroyers and the outdated YJ-83 anti-ship missiles it carries are limitations.
Xinhua chose to omit any evaluation of the Shandong aircraft carrier, likely aware of the huge gap between Chinese and American aircraft carriers, which had already been revealed in previous reports.
On June 30, Xinhua reported “Liaoning and Shandong carrier battle groups completed far-sea combat drills”.
The article mentions a recent far-sea combat drill by the Liaoning and Shandong carrier battle groups in the Western Pacific Ocean, involving real combat encounters testing reconnaissance, warning, defense, assault, and day-night flight tactics for carrier-based aircraft.
In June, both the Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carrier fleets were seen outside the first island chain. According to Xinhua, these two carriers engaged in “mutually adversarial” combat exercises covering “reconnaissance, defense, assault, and defense against naval and aerial attacks”.
Xinhua’s report reveals that Chinese aircraft carriers are primarily focused on defense, particularly “defense against air attacks”. The limited number of J-15 jets equipped with air-to-air missiles can only carry out air defense missions after taking off. This mirrors the primary function of former Soviet aircraft carrier designs which expanded domestic air defense capabilities outward.
However, once Chinese aircraft carriers reach the first island chain, they are exposed to being surrounded or attacked from multiple directions, resulting in a suicidal exercise scenario. U.S. aircraft can launch BGM-158C long-range anti-ship missiles beyond the CCP carrier battle group’s air defense range. The PLA’s J-15 jets cannot match U.S. F-22 and F-35 fifth-generation fighters, and CCP destroyers equipped with HQ-9 air defense missiles, S-300 clones, may struggle to intercept missiles or even detect U.S. stealth aircraft.
The role of an aircraft carrier is to fully utilize carrier-based aircraft for long-range sea-based attacks. The operating range of U.S. carrier-based aircraft is 500 kilometers, capable of launching attacks 950 kilometers away with AGM-158C anti-ship missiles, outside the reach of the Chinese aircraft carrier by 1,000 kilometers.
Due to the limit of a ski-jump deck on Chinese aircraft carriers, J-15 jets have difficulty carrying anti-ship missiles and bombs for takeoff, making them lack sufficient strike capability, mainly serving for self-defense. The so-called “assault on the sea” exercise likely does not refer to the carrier itself but possibly indicates a suicidal attack by destroyers or frigates charging at the U.S. fleet. The training level of Chinese aircraft carriers is far from advanced.
Xinhua’s article also mentions “the carrier battle group actively explores the elements of fleet operations and the practical use of forces in combat”.
The party media acknowledges that the Chinese aircraft carrier training is still in the “exploratory” stage, further undermining the credibility of the PLA Navy.
During the training period, foreign vessels and aircraft repeatedly came close for reconnaissance, tracking, and monitoring.
The amateurish training of the Chinese aircraft carrier was closely monitored and recorded by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, adding to the embarrassment.
On July 4, Xinhua released another report titled “Experts’ Interpretation: The visit of Navy ships to Hong Kong has multiple positive implications”. The article quotes an expert saying: “The Liaoning and Shandong carrier battle groups have just completed far-sea combat drills. After a few days of replenishment in the port, the Shandong carrier makes its first visit to Hong Kong.”
After the Shandong aircraft carrier returned from beyond the first island chain, it did not make a direct visit to Hong Kong but first returned to the Hainan Sanya base for maintenance before circling back to Hong Kong. This roundabout arrangement should be bizarre for U.S. aircraft carriers deployed in the Western Pacific, as they can easily dock at various ports in countries like Guam, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Singapore. In November 2018, the USS Ronald Reagan had even visited Hong Kong.
The Chinese aircraft carrier seems to be more delicate; after a brief long-range training exercise, it has to return to its homeport for maintenance and cannot directly dock in Hong Kong, reflecting the gap in readiness levels.
Additionally, the Chinese aircraft carrier may be hesitant to replenish supplies in Hong Kong, fearing potential issues. Although Hong Kong is under heavy CCP influence, there is still a lack of trust, prompting the Shandong aircraft carrier group to return to Sanya for refueling before heading to Hong Kong. Most likely, the crew will be closely monitored, prohibiting easy access to Hong Kong’s streets. In contrast, U.S. aircraft carriers make port calls in Hong Kong to allow their crew to go ashore for leisure.
This also suggests that the Shandong aircraft carrier likely has only Sanya as a refueling port in the South China Sea. Despite its closer proximity to Taiwan and the Bashi Channel, the CCP has not considered it as a potential port for docking or resupply. In the event of a conflict, the Shandong aircraft carrier group can only shuttle between Sanya or rely on replenishment ships, severely restricting its operational capabilities.
On July 3, Xinhua also reported “Pearl of the East, Ship of the Motherland – Navy Shandong Carrier Battle Group’s First Day Visit to Hong Kong”. The article states that the carrier battle group set sail from a military port in Sanya on July 1 and arrived in Hong Kong from July 3 to 7.
The Liaoning aircraft carrier has previously been revealed to require 48 hours to boil water in its boilers before setting sail; it’s unknown if the Shandong has similar requirements, making its return to Sanya quite cumbersome. Similarly, the Shandong’s boilers would likely need to be prepared on July 5 or 6 to depart from Hong Kong on July 7.
In June, when the Shandong was outside the first island chain, images captured by the Japanese Ministry of Defense showed approximately 8 J-15 jets parked on the deck; the Liaoning carried about 10. The exploration-style training exercises of Chinese aircraft carriers are political in nature, and for safety reasons, they can only carry a limited number of carrier-based aircraft; also, the availability of J-15 jets is likely limited, hence both carriers might not be fully loaded.
The Shandong aircraft carrier specifically returned to the Sanya base to prepare for the visit to Hong Kong and should have carried more J-15 jets; however, the Xinhua report stated that there were only 12 J-15 carrier-based fighters neatly arranged on the deck.
From the images, it appears that the Shandong aircraft carrier’s deck only had 12 J-15 jets and 4 helicopters. Hong Kong media had previously claimed that the Shandong could carry 44 aircraft, including about 36 J-15 fighters and other carrier-based aircraft types, surpassing the Liaoning’s capacity by half.
The outcome exposed the Shandong aircraft carrier once again. This indicates that the existing J-15 model is likely no longer in production, with some potentially already rendered unusable. In addition, all three escort ships visiting Hong Kong had 1 helicopter on the rear deck. Half a month ago, when accompanying the Shandong aircraft carrier beyond the first island chain, no helicopters were seen on board, likely due to safety reasons.
The visit of Chinese warships to Hong Kong appears to be a show, with each bringing a helicopter on board. The journey from Sanya to Hong Kong covers about 600 kilometers over 2 days, indicating a cautious approach possibly due to concerns about the safety of helicopters falling into the sea.
The CCP’s military vessels’ show tour to Hong Kong was exposed by Xinhua, leading to a cascade of embarrassing scenarios, completely tarnishing their propaganda of patriotism.