China Maritime Studies Institute – In July and August 2025, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) employed a unique type of civilian deck cargo ship known as a Landing Craft Tank (LCT) to transport military vehicles directly to shore as part of an amphibious landing exercise. While civilian deck cargo ships of this type have been observed in previous PLA over-the-shore logistics exercises, they had only been used to transport vehicles and equipment from port-to-port—simulating the transport of forces into a captured port—not directly to an unimproved beachhead. If the PLA develops the ability to coordinate and employ significant numbers of civilian LCTs to transport forces directly onto Taiwan beaches, it could significantly improve its over the-shore assault capacities and logistics capabilities.

War on the Rocks – In any war over Taiwan, American commanders will face a problem that barely existed a decade ago: China can hide lethal military systems inside standard commercial shipping containers. These “containerized” missile launchers are modern renditions of an old U.S. Navy concept first marketed in the Russian Club-K and are now reportedly fielded in Chinese variants. They ride on the decks of merchant ships, blend into global commerce, and give Beijing the ability to forward-deploy precision weapons without visibly deploying a single warship.

Covert Shores – Putting weapons onto a merchant vessel is nothing new of course, and the concept of containerized missiles in standard ISO 40ft (12m) is very much in vogue. Iran, Israel, Turkey and Russia are among the countries to have already done this, or at least proposed it. Yet it remains novel and the latest Chinese vessel stands out in several important ways.

Naval News – As the year 2025 has come to its conclusion, Naval News provides the usual annual review on notable developments for the Chinese Navy. This first part will outline relevant additions to the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) surface fleet and also takes a brief look at operational trends. A second part to follow will look at submarines, auxiliaries and experimental efforts.

The War Zone – China has reconfigured its medium cargo ship-turned improvised warship into a drone carrier, but just how realistic is what we are seeing?

China Daily – The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command on Monday started joint drills involving its Army, Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force troops in five areas surrounding Taiwan Island.

Codenamed “Justice Mission 2025,” the drills were conducted in the Taiwan Strait and waters to the north, southwest, southeast, and east of the island, to combat “Taiwan independence” separatist activities and external interference.

Military experts summarized three key takeaways of the drills.

1945 – Earlier today, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) launched its latest military exercise around Taiwan and nearby areas: “Justice Mission 2025” (正义使命-2025). Combat readiness patrols are already underway, with sea and air exclusion zones designated for live-fire exercises tomorrow. This makes it all the more urgent to consider the most important revelations from the Pentagon’s China Military Power Report, released on December 23, 2025.

The War Zone – The People’s Liberation Army Navy claims the ship-killing missile capable of hypersonic speeds has completed its “finalization test.”

The War Zone – A key part of the latest maneuvers is dissuading international “interference” in any future Chinese move against Taiwan.

Maritime Executive – Among the 2025 Pentagon report’s greatest revelations, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has fielded a conventional intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) able to range parts of America’s homeland. This makes China the first nation publicly assessed to have fielded an operational, conventionally-armed ICBM—the DF-27—albeit at the low end of the ICBM range band and with variant-dependent roles. America’s homeland is not a sanctuary from either PRC nuclear or conventional missiles.

The War Zone – China has packed a deck of a medium-sized cargo ship with 60 containerized vertical launch cells, radar, and close-in weapons.

US Department of Defense – The DOD’s Annual Report on the Chinese military

China Maritime Studies Institute – A recent unconfirmed rumor about the Chinese Navy developing a new general-purpose guidedmissile destroyer has stirred debate online. Many commenters argue that the Type 055 already offers exceptional capability across air defense, missile defense, anti-ship, anti-submarine, and general warfare roles, and is more than capable of meeting current mission needs. But because it’s expensive to build, it is not practical to produce in large numbers or to use for routine tasks, so it will likely remain a smaller part of the fleet. In contrast, the more affordable Type 052D class is limited by its size and displacement, which restricts how much it can be upgraded. As a result, it still cannot match the endurance or sustained firepower of the U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

CSIS – The United States should flag this activity as another example of China’s grey zone tactics targeting Indo-Pacific partners. Washington and Seoul should consider releasing the coordinates of the Chinese structures for public use and analysis. Washington should support any South Korean claims of unilateral violations of the PMZ agreement by China. In sum, what the new National Security Strategy mandates for the South China Sea is applicable to U.S. and South Korean efforts to maintain freedom of navigation in the Yellow Sea.

Naval News – The vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, over 5,000 nautical miles across, protects the West Coast of the United States against Chinese naval forces in the event of a war. The appearance of new extra-extra-large underwater drones (XXLUUVs) changes this, providing China with low-risk options to directly threaten West Coast ports.

Naval News – Hidden beneath tarpaulins, an uncommon sight at Chinese shipyards, a new trimaran-hulled vessel appears to combine features of both surface ships and submarines. Satellite imagery suggests it may be uncrewed, designed for high-speed operations. Though its purpose remains unknown, the project reflects the accelerating pace and growing sophistication of China’s naval innovation.

Global Times – Less than two weeks after the commissioning of China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy announced on Tuesday that the electromagnetic catapult-equipped warship has already conducted its first live-force maritime training in a carrier formation. This reflected the speed how fast the Fujian is becoming combat-ready, said experts.

Reuters – China is mobilizing an armada of civilian ships that could help in an invasion of Taiwan – a mission that could surpass the Second World War’s Normandy landings. Reuters used ship tracking data and satellite images to monitor the role civilian vessels played in Chinese maritime exercises this summer. The drills revealed that China is devising concrete invasion plans, naval warfare experts say, and rehearsing new techniques aimed at speeding up beach landings of troops and equipment in a bid to overwhelm Taiwan’s defenders.

China Maritime Studies Institute – At present and for a period into the future, numerous security concerns and threats will persist along China’s periphery, in the far seas, and overseas. [China’s] national security threats are primarily at sea, the focal point of military struggle is at sea, and the center of gravity for the expansion of [China’s] national interest is also at sea.3 As the elite amphibious combat force, the PLAN Marine Corps finds its primary theaters of operations in oceans, on islands, and overseas. It must closely monitor maritime and overseas security developments, accurately assess security threats, coordinate maritime and overseas operations, clearly identify military requirements, accelerate transformation and development, and continuously enhance combat capabilities. This will enable it to play a critical role participating in global maritime governance and winning high-end maritime conflict.

National Interest – The People’s Liberation Army Navy might not actually be able to beat the US Navy in the Indo-Pacific. But if it looks like it can, China will reap strategic benefits.

The War Zone – China has assembled an array of unusual open-decked ships for testing and training purposes in recent years.

Covert Shores – Now several generations of submarine behind the latest Type-039C and Type-041 classes, it seems likely that the first in class Type-039 Song is now assigned a specialized role. The submarine has been observed fitted with mountings for some sort of container or vehicle on her aft casing.

CIMSEC – China will likely test its military might in small wars before embarking on a larger one. The world should take note of China’s entry and actions during a small war. When the People’s Republic of China does engage in a small war, the world will know China is preparing for the forceful reunification of Taiwan.

Naval News – Hidden beneath tarpaulins, an uncommon sight at Chinese shipyards, a new trimaran-hulled vessel appears to combine features of both surface ships and submarines. Satellite imagery suggests it may be uncrewed, designed for high-speed operations. Though its purpose remains unknown, the project reflects the accelerating pace and growing sophistication of China’s naval innovation.

Covert Shores – When China unveiled its first ever large displacement underwater drone for the Navy in 2019, the 5-meter long HSU001, it was as if China was only taking baby steps on the road to autonomous undersea warfare. At the time Beijing was clearly behind leading Western navies. In just 6 years since then the situation has flipped, and the HSU001 now appears toy-like compared to what has followed. China’s development of extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles (XLUUVs) is now unmatched globally, and accelerating rapidly. No other nation is pursuing undersea autonomy at comparable scale, scope, or speed.