A Type 075 amphibious assault ship participates in the “Justice Mission 2025” joint military drills organized by the PLA Eastern Theater Command in waters to the southeast of the Taiwan island on December 29, 2025. Photo: Screenshot from the WeChat account of the PLA Eastern Theater Command

Information released by the PLA Eastern Theater Command on Monday showed that many new-quality combat forces, including an amphibious assault ship task force, bomber task forces and drones, have participated in the ongoing "Justice Mission 2025" exercise. Notably, this marks the first appearance of a Type 075 amphibious assault ship in exercises surrounding Taiwan.

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said that on Monday, the PLA Eastern Theater Command dispatched task forces of bombers, amphibious assault ships, anti-ship missiles to conduct drills on vessel-aircraft coordination, maritime target strike, long-distance raid, and comprehensive support in the waters and airspace to the southeast of the Taiwan Island. The drills tested capabilities of integrated operations inside and outside the island chain, and of neutralizing the enemy at maximum range.

This marks the debut of a domestically developed amphibious assault ship in the series of exercises encircling Taiwan. Hailed by netizens as key assets for island-seizure operations, amphibious assault ships – particularly the Type 075, which has already been commissioned, and the Type 076, which has already completed its maiden sea trial – stand as a Sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. Footage released by the Eastern Theater Command confirms that the amphibious assault ship participating in the exercise is exactly a Type 075.

Professor Zhang Chi from the National Defense University told the Global Times that as the name suggests, an amphibious assault ship is designed for amphibious offensive operations, tasked with delivering landing forces rapidly to launch assaults against land targets. 

He noted that the first key feature of the amphibious assault ship is its massive carrying capacity. With a displacement exceeding 30,000 tons, it adopts a full-length flight deck configuration equipped with multiple helicopter landing spots, enabling simultaneous operation and coordination of several ship-borne helicopters. Its hangar can accommodate over 30 helicopters, while its well deck is capable of holding multiple air-cushioned landing craft. The vehicle deck can carry dozens of amphibious armored vehicles, allowing the ship to deliver a combat unit equivalent to one reinforced battalion in a single deployment.

The second defining feature lies in its diverse operational modes. First is vertical landing, which primarily relies on attack helicopters to conduct ground strikes and deploy special operations forces. Second is over-the-horizon landing, which mainly uses air-cushioned landing craft to beach heavy equipment such as tanks and armored vehicles. Third is horizontal landing, which involves amphibious tanks and armored vehicles making a frontal beach landing. Moreover, under certain conditions, these three landing modes can be coordinated and carried out simultaneously, according to Zhang.

Earlier the same day, the Eastern Theater Command also released footage of bomber task forces conducting strike drills against targets beyond the first island chain.

"On Monday afternoon, the participating troops of the Eastern Theater Command conducted focused drills on key subjects including long-range strikes and joint precision strikes east of Taiwan island, verifying their capabilities for long-range maneuver operations," Zhang said. He noted that they also carried out simulated precision strikes against key targets of external interference forces, cutting off the supply channels through which external forces provide support to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. This effectively repels external interference in the Taiwan Straits and thoroughly shatters the delusion of the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces to put up a last-ditch resistance.

"Judging from the content of today’s exercises, the PLA has an extensive array of means and tools to deter 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and repel external interference forces; its targeting for blockades and control operations is extremely precise; its capabilities to isolate and besiege are exceptionally strong; and its efforts to counter external interference are highly effective," Zhang said.

It proves that the Chinese people's resolve to achieve the complete reunification of the motherland is unwavering, the foundation for it is formidable, and the strength to realize it is invincible, Zhang noted.