With 15 active vessels, advanced design features, and the ability to deploy troops, vehicles, and helicopters, the ship enhances China’s ability to conduct complex amphibious operations.
America is not doing well on the global security stage, regardless of the ra-ra the Trump administration continues to propagate about its dynamic chicken run over Iran two weekends ago. Sensing weakness and distraction—while also dealing with its own potential leadership woes in Beijing—China is working feverishly to solidify their regional military dominance.
China Is Changing the Balance of Power in the Taiwan Strait
Just recently, Focus Taiwan reported that a Chinese Type 072A landing ship used for amphibious warfare operations was operating in the waters off northern Taiwan. This comes on the heels of more than a year’s worth of rapid escalations by China’s military against the democratic island. Since 1949, when Mao Zedong and his communists defeated Chiang Kai-Shek and the Chinese Nationalists in China’s civil war and Chiang’s defeated forces fled to Taiwan, a succession of Chinese communist rulers have sought to reabsorb the island into their regional empire.
Until the last decade, the military balance of power consistently favored the United States and, by default, their partners in Taiwan. But those days are long gone. China has flipped the regional military balance of power in their favor. They are now working feverishly to exploit America’s relative weakness today, fearing that they may never get another chance to extract major concessions from the United States.
Type 072A Landing Ship: The Backbone of Beijing’s Invasion Fleet
China’s Type 072A landing ship is a class of amphibious warfare vessels that is designed for transporting troops, vehicles, and supplies from ship-to-shore. This system plays a key role in China’s amphibious operations. It is an evolution of the earlier Type 072II and Type 072III landing ships, incorporating improvements in design and functionality.
The ship has a full-length vehicle deck with bow doors and a stern ramp, allowing for efficient loading and unloading of vehicles and troops. A tunnel through the superstructure connects the forward and rear decks, enhancing crew movement and operational efficiency. There is a helipad landing platform at the stern, capable of supporting two medium helicopters—either the Z-8 or Z-9—but the ship lacks a hangar, limiting prolonged helicopter operations.
A well deck, designed to accommodate air-cushioned landing craft such as the Type 726, enhances the ship’s ability to deploy troops and equipment rapidly.
There are two batches of armaments for the Type 072A. The first batch (2003-2005) was equipped with a twin 37mm gun turret for basic air and surface defense. The second batch, from 2015 and onwards, replaced the 37mm guns with a single H/PJ-17 30mm automatic cannon, offering improved point-defense capabilities against air and small surface threats. The ship relies on accompanying naval and air assets for enhanced protection, as its onboard weaponry is limited to light defense.
The Type 072A can carry up to 250 fully armed soldiers. Around 10 tanks or a mix of armored vehicles and trucks are supported, too. Meanwhile, four conventional landing craft or air-cushioned vehicles are available for shore deployment.
A total of 15 of these ships are active across the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) North Sea, East Sea, and South Sea Fleets.
China’s Type 072A landing ship is a critical asset in the PLAN’s amphibious warfare arsenal, reflecting China’s growing emphasis on power projection and territorial ambitions, particularly regarding Taiwan.
With 15 active vessels, advanced design features, and the ability to deploy troops, vehicles, and helicopters, the ship enhances China’s ability to conduct complex amphibious operations.
Type 072A’s reliance on external protection and limited onboard aviation facilities highlight areas for improvement. Ultimately, though, this is an impressive ship with key capabilities needed for China’s rulers accomplishing their goal of becoming the dominant world power by the year 2049.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / FOTOGRIN.
