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An advanced Chinese warship thought to play a key role in the country’s South China Sea and Taiwan strategies sailed into Hong Kong on Thursday, part of a publicity campaign showcasing Beijing’s increasingly sophisticated military force.
The 36,000-tonne Hainan is a helicopter-carrying amphibious assault ship that was hailed as a breakthrough for China’s navy when it came into service in 2021.
It is part of the fleet that operates in the South China Sea, the site of multiple simmering territorial disputes between Beijing and its neighbours.
The hulking vessel was docked at a Hong Kong Island pier on Thursday, with multiple helicopters parked on its large, flat deck.
China’s defence ministry this week said it was there to showcase the country’s “military development” and the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) “firm determination and strong capabilities in safeguarding national sovereignty and security”.
