Chinese warships flood region amid claims Philippines flotilla’s firepower matches Aussie surface fleet

Beijing is deploying dozens of warships and coast guard boats across east Asian waters in a record maritime show of force, as stunning new satellite images give the clearest glimpse yet of a formidable Chinese task group that may soon head towards Australia.

At one point over 100 Chinese vessels are believed to have been recently scattered throughout the region, according to security officials and intelligence reports cited by the Reuters news agency.

Since mid-November the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) has massed assets in waters stretching from the southern part of the Yellow Sea through the East China Sea and down into the contested South China Sea, as well as into the Pacific.

China is in the middle of what is traditionally a busy period for military exercises, although the People’s Liberation Army has not made any announcements of large-scale officially named drills.

Earlier this week Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed Australia’s military was monitoring one PLA-N task group in the Philippine Sea above Papua New Guinea, which officials believe could “possibly” next sail south.

Now fresh satellite images collected this week by US company Vantor, and first obtained by The Nightly, give a detailed public view of the high-powered flotilla which boasts two destroyers, a Landing Helicopter Dock ship and a replenishment ship.

Naval analysts claim the collective firepower contained in the Chinese flotilla virtually matches the number of missile cells carried by the entire surface fleet of the Royal Australian Navy.

The Type 055D cruiser (Chinese Naval Ship Anshan) is packed with 112 missile launch cells, while the Type 054A (CNS Linyi) carries an additional 32-cell vertical launch system.

In comparison Australia’s three Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyers are equipped with 48 VLS cells each, while the country’s ageing ANZAC class frigates carry only 8, and less than half the total fleet is considered operational.

As well as two heavily armed warships, the Chinese task group is comprised of a Yushen-class landing helicopter dock capable of carrying 30 helicopters and 1000 marines, which rarely deploys beyond Beijing’s strategic first island chain.

It also includes a Fuchi-class replenishment vessel that carries supplies and more than 11,000 tonnes of fuel, extending the Chinese flotilla’s range to over 10,000 nautical miles – enough to circle major land masses such as Australia.

Naval analyst Alex Luck says three of the identified vessels are assigned to the PLA-N’s Southern Theatre Command - responsible for operations in the South China Sea where Australian warships regularly conduct freedom of navigation operations.

He notes the satellite imagery also appears to show the Chinese naval task group conducting underway replenishment, where supplies are transferred between ships, with the Hainan seen breaking formation and sailing away from the rest of the group.

Mike Plunkett, senior naval platforms analyst at intelligence firm Janes, says the pictures show the vessels being replenished at sea, which involves the transfer of fuel, supplies and ammunition from one ship to another.

Plunket noted that a closer look at the Vantor satellite imagery shows a line running between the cruiser and replenishment ship, while the Jiangkai II-class frigate is getting ready to join the resupply vessel as well.

Speaking to the BBC, the naval analyst said it was also likely the amphibious assault ship was moving away from the group because it had just completed its own replenishment.

“All of the above are standard operations for any first-rate navy and the Chinese have been doing it successfully for many years.

“The ability to replenish ships at sea means that navies are not tied to bases and can stay at sea for longer and further away than would otherwise be the case.”

As of Thursday morning, there were over 90 Chinese ships operating in the region, coming down from more than 100 at one point earlier this week, according to documents cited by Reuters.

The scale of the current PLA-N operations exceeds China’s mass naval deployment in December last year, that prompted Taiwan to raise its alert level, sources told the news agency.

Tsai Ming-yen, director-general of Taiwan’s National Security Bureau, said on Wednesday that China is now in what is generally the most active season for its military drills.

As of Wednesday morning, China has four naval formations operating in the western Pacific, and Taiwan is keeping tabs on them, Tsai said, without giving details.

“So we must anticipate the enemy as broadly as possible and continue to watch closely for any changes in related activities,” he said, when asked if China could stage any new Taiwan-specific drills before the end of the year.

During senate estimates this week, Defence Chief Admiral David Johnston revealed an RAAF P-8 surveillance plane had observed the Chinese task group operating in the Philippine Sea on Tuesday evening, approximately 500 nautical miles north of Palau.

“I have previously stated that we have seen a greater PLA Navy presence in our immediate region in recent years, and we do expect to see future PLA in extended area deployments.”

Admiral Johnston said the ADF would continue to monitor this task group “as we learn more about its direction, its purpose and an intent”, but did not reveal if the warships appeared to be moving closer to Australia.

“If they move into the southwest Pacific, we would work with our Pacific partners in that area, the French in New Caledonia, PNG - so it very much depends on where the ships might proceed. Of course, we work closely with the United States at all times.”