In celebration of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's 76th founding anniversary on April 23, the Type 071 amphibious transport dock Yimengshan and the Type 052C guided missile destroyer Xi'an are open to the public at the Bund in Shanghai by the Huangpu River on April 22, 2025. Photo: VCG

More than 30 vessels in active service, some of them for the first time, opened to the public across over 10 coastal cities in celebration of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's 76th anniversary of its founding on Wednesday, official media reported. On this special day, experts hailed the navy's strides toward the deep blue with achievements reached over the past year such as the trial, launch and commissioning of advanced new warships, as well as intensive exercises and patrols.

Warships participating in the open-house event include the Type 075 amphibious assault ship Hainan in its namesake province of South China's Hainan, the Type 071 amphibious transport dock Yimengshan and the Type 052C guided missile destroyer Xi'an in Shanghai, the Type 052D guided missile destroyer Nanjing and the Type 056A guided missile corvette Lu'an in Taizhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, the birthplace of the PLA Navy. In addition, the Type 054A guided missile frigate Linyi in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, the Peace Ark hospital ship in North China's Tianjin, and many others also took part, according to reports by China Central Television (CCTV).

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that these vessels are just a few representatives of the PLA Navy's achievements and capabilities. However, they are not all the PLA Navy has to offer, as Zhang said he expects the PLA Navy to continue to develop, and more new-type warships will emerge and open to the public in the future.

Over the past year, the PLA Navy saw significant progress in development of its new-type warships, Zhang noted.

Following its launch in June 2022, China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, also the PLA Navy's first 80,000 ton-class carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults, started sea trials in May 2024. Since then, the Fujian has reportedly conducted seven sea trials, which Wu Qian, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson, said at a regular press conference in March were normal arrangements during the carrier's construction.

In December 2024, China launched its first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan. The ship has a full displacement of more than 40,000 tons, has a double island superstructure and a full longitudinal flight deck innovatively equipped with electromagnetic catapult and arresting technology, allowing it to carry not only helicopters and amphibious equipment, but also fixed wing aircraft, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Chinese military affairs expert Song Zhongping said the Type 076 is "almost a light aircraft carrier."

Then in January this year, the PLA Navy took delivery of the Luohe, the first Type 054B frigate. According to Xinhua, the vessel has a displacement of about 5,000 tons and has made breakthroughs in vessel stealth technology, combat command systems and firepower integrated control, among other aspects. A second Type 054B frigate was unveiled in an official poster released by the PLA South Sea Fleet earlier this month.

Besides equipment development, the PLA Navy has conducted many important missions such as training exercises and patrols over the past year.

According to the PLA Eastern Theater Command, the navy participated in the Joint Sword-2024A, the Joint Sword-2024B and the Strait Thunder-2025A exercises around the island of Taiwan in May 2024, October 2024 and April 2025 respectively, while the PLA Southern Theater Command announced several patrols in the South China Sea throughout the year

Another highlight is a far seas training exercise by a PLA Navy flotilla in the open seas in the South Pacific in February this year, which attracted a lot of hype from Australia at the time.

The PLA Navy also held joint drills with countries including Cambodia, Nigeria, Russia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Iran and Thailand in the past year, according to official media reports.

Zhang said that, in addition to holding drills in the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the South China Sea, PLA Navy warships conducted several far seas exercises, reaching locations such as the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean, displaying the PLA Navy's increasing capabilities in far seas operations.

Looking into the future, Wang Yunfei, another Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday that he expects to see more major achievements to be reached by the PLA Navy in the coming year. Wang said he looks forward to seeing if the aircraft carrier Fujian enters service with the PLA Navy in the coming year accompanied by the new J-35 carrier-borne stealth fighter jet, and the first Type 076 amphibious assault ship to start holding sea trials.

Riding on the momentum of the PLA Navy's current development, it is possible that some other major equipment projects could bear fruit, and large vessels such as the Type 055 large destroyer could conduct more surprising far seas exercises, Wang said.

Zhang said that the PLA Navy's upcoming development is expected to further boost its far seas capabilities, contributing to the better safeguarding of China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as fulfilling China's international responsibility and obligations in providing global security public goods such as naval escorts.