Did a stealthy new Chinese destroyer just sail through the Sea of Japan in a provocative gesture to challenge Japan’s fast-growing effort to build more military strength and challenge Chinese aggression in the region?
It does appear that way, according to a report in the Chinese-government backed Global Times newspaper which cites a press release from Japan’s Ministry of Defense.
Chinese Military Ships, Sea of Japan
According to the Chinese report, a People’s Liberation Army – Navy flotilla of four warships passed through the Soya Strait from Sea of Japan with a Type 052D destroyer and a Type 903A supply ship supported by China’s sleek-looking new Type 055 destroyer the Nanchang.
“The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force on August 24 spotted a PLA Navy flotilla consisting of four warships, namely the Type 055 destroyer Nanchang, the Type 052D destroyer Guiyang, a Type 903A supply ship with hull number 903, and a surveillance ship with hull number 799, which passed through the Soya Strait from the Sea of Japan and then sailed east, Japan’s Ministry of Defense Joint Staff said in a press release on August 25,” the Global Times writes.
Alongside the apparent Chinese “gesture” to provoke or send power messages to Japan, the use of the Nanchang seems to be of particular significance. This ship, which one could arguable say rips off some of the visible design concepts of the USS Zumwalt-class destroyer, does appear to have a somewhat-stealthy external shape.
