Type 075 ship: The ace up Xi's sleeve? All about China's trump card for Taiwan takeover

China’s Type 075 amphibious assault ships have emerged as one of the most visible symbols of Beijing’s growing military pressure on Taiwan, combining scale, speed and flexibility in ways that significantly reshape the regional balance. December marked a turning point for the class, as the PLA deployed a Type 075 for the first time in large-scale drills encircling the self-ruled island, underscoring its central role in any future cross-strait operation, as per SCMP.

A centrepiece of China’s amphibious ambitions

The Type 075, known as the Yushen class, is among the world’s largest amphibious assault ships, displacing between 35,000 and 40,000 tonnes. Designed to deliver troops, armour and aircraft directly onto hostile shores, it forms the backbone of the PLA Navy’s expeditionary and island-seizure capabilities. Often described by Chinese media as a helicopter carrier or light aircraft carrier, the ship combines a full-length flight deck with a large well deck for landing craft.

Construction of the first ship, the Hainan, began in 2018 and progressed at striking speed. Launched in 2019 and commissioned in 2021, it has since been joined by the Guangxi, Anhui and a fourth sister ship launched in late 2023. Together, they represent a major leap beyond China’s earlier Type 071 amphibious transport docks and signal Beijing’s intent to sustain large-scale amphibious operations far from the mainland.

Built for rapid island assault

At around 780 feet long, the Type 075 can operate roughly 30 helicopters, including heavy transport models capable of lifting troops and equipment inland. Its flight deck supports simultaneous helicopter operations, while elevators connect to a large hangar below. The well deck can carry air-cushion landing craft and conventional landing vessels, allowing tanks, artillery and armoured vehicles to be ferried ashore.

Estimates suggest each ship can deploy between 800 and 1,200 marines, with some assessments placing the figure even higher. The vessel also includes extensive medical facilities and command spaces, enabling it to function as a floating headquarters during complex joint operations. Defensive systems, including short-range missiles and close-in weapons, provide protection against aircraft, missiles and small surface threats.

Crucially, the Type 075 supports multiple landing methods: vertical insertion by helicopter, over-the-horizon landings using hovercraft, and direct beach assaults by amphibious vehicles. These options can be coordinated simultaneously, complicating any defender’s response.

From drills to deterrence around Taiwan

The ship’s debut in December’s “Justice Mission 2025” drills marked a significant escalation. Operating alongside bombers, missiles and drones, the Type 075 took part in exercises focused on sea-air coordination, long-range strikes and blockade operations around Taiwan. Chinese military officials framed the drills as testing integrated operations both inside and beyond the first island chain.

President Xi Jinping has repeatedly linked such military advances to what he calls the “unstoppable” trend towards reunification.