China Unveils New Destroyer During East China Sea Naval Exercises

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Chinese Navy has deployed an upgraded destroyer (Zibo-class) to participate in maritime exercises in the East China Sea, reported the Chinese state-run Global Times on the 13th.

The hull number of this destroyer, an upgraded version of the existing destroyer, is 156. The Zibo-class was commissioned in January and is called the 052DL type, the first upgraded version of the 052D destroyer.

The Chinese Navy recently unveiled an improved destroyer (Zibo-class) during maritime exercises in the East China Sea. (Photo by Global Times, NAVY 81.CN)

The 052DL destroyer has a longer helicopter landing deck than the 052D version and is equipped with a new meter-wave radar. It can carry the state-of-the-art Z-20 helicopter and counter enemy stealth fighters. This is the first time the new destroyer has been revealed.

The Global Times reported that the exercise took place amid rising tensions around the Taiwan Strait, with the U.S. sending reconnaissance aircraft close to mainland China.

The Global Times also explained the maritime exercise background as an effort to suppress U.S. military reconnaissance activities and to send a warning to Taiwan separatists.

Earlier, the PLA Daily published photos of the destroyer fleet sortie and gunfire on its front page on the 12th. The newspaper reported, "The Navy's destroyer fleet conducted various maritime exercises in the East China Sea, including missile defense, enemy ship strikes, and anti-submarine joint training."