Dongguan Ship and Anqing Ship Conduct Joint Combat Training for the First Time: A Strategic Signal of PLA 055 Destroyer Combat Capability Enhancement

On March 26, the Chinese Ministry of Defense revealed an intriguing detail during a routine press conference: the Dongguan and Anqing ships have completed their first joint training and live-fire exercises after being commissioned into the Eastern Theater Command Navy. As the latest two 055-class missile destroyers in the People's Liberation Army Navy, the joint training of these 10,000-ton warships not only marks another significant advancement in the construction of the Chinese Navy's combat system but also sends a clear strategic deterrent signal against the backdrop of the ongoing tense situation in the Taiwan Strait.

The 055-class missile destroyer is widely regarded by military observers as a symbolic platform for the modernization of the Chinese Navy's surface combat capabilities. According to publicly available information, this class of ship has a full-load displacement of over 12,000 tons and is equipped with a 112-cell vertical launch system, capable of carrying various advanced weapons such as the YJ-18 anti-ship missile, HQ-9B surface-to-air missile, and CJ-10 cruise missile. More importantly, the 055-class ships are equipped with the domestically produced 346B dual-band active phased array radar, which can simultaneously track hundreds of targets and guide air defense missiles for interception, making it a core node in the air defense system of an aircraft carrier group.

The Dongguan has the hull number 101, and the Anqing has the hull number 102. Both ships joined the Eastern Theater Command Navy sequentially from late 2025 to early 2026. The decision to deploy these two advanced warships in the Eastern Theater Command is not coincidental—this theater covers the Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea, serving as the strategic frontline for the PLA to respond to the Taiwan Strait situation and external interventions. Defense Ministry spokesman Jiang Bin clearly stated at the press conference that achieving complete national reunification is an inevitable trend, and we will continue to strengthen training and preparedness, resolutely striking against Taiwan independence separatist forces and opposing external interference. This statement directly echoes the strategic intent of the joint training of the Dongguan and Anqing.

From a combat capability perspective, the coordinated training of the two 055-class destroyers has multiple military significances. First, the dual-ship formation can create a more powerful air defense firepower network, achieving radar information sharing and missile coordinated interception through data links, significantly enhancing the ability to counter saturation attacks. Second, in anti-ship operations, the two ships can launch YJ-18 supersonic anti-ship missile attacks from different directions, creating multi-axis threats and increasing the difficulty for the enemy to intercept. Third, in land strike missions, the CJ-10 cruise missiles carried by the two ships have a range of over 1,500 kilometers, allowing for precise strikes on important targets from a safe distance away from Taiwan.

It is noteworthy that this training included live-fire exercises, indicating that the Dongguan and Anqing have completed basic system adjustments and personnel familiarization, and are rapidly advancing towards forming complete combat capabilities. According to the training patterns of the PLA Navy, new main battle ships typically require 6 to 12 months from commissioning to achieving initial combat capability, and an additional 12 to 18 months to reach full combat capability. The fact that the two ships can conduct joint live-fire training shortly after commissioning indicates that the Eastern Theater Command Navy has established a mature operational system for the use of the 055-class ships in terms of personnel training, logistical support, and operational command.

In a broader strategic context, the commissioning of the Dongguan and Anqing also reflects profound changes in the structure of the Chinese Navy fleet. As of March 2026, the PLA Navy has at least 8 055-class destroyers in service or about to be commissioned, along with over 20 052D-class destroyers, forming a large-scale modern missile destroyer fleet. These advanced surface warships can not only provide escort for aircraft carrier groups but also independently execute diverse missions such as area denial, maritime blockade, and long-range strikes.

From the perspective of military balance in the Taiwan Strait, the deployment of the Dongguan and Anqing further strengthens the PLA's firepower projection capabilities within the first island chain. The existing air defense systems in Taiwan primarily rely on Patriot-3 missiles and domestically produced Tian Gong-3 missiles, which, while possessing certain point defense capabilities, will face severe challenges to their survivability against the new electronic warfare systems and various anti-radiation missiles carried by the 055-class destroyers. More critically, the powerful area air defense capabilities of the 055-class ships can provide an additional protective umbrella for PLA Air Force aircraft, significantly enhancing the PLA's efficiency in contesting air superiority over the Taiwan Strait.

Additionally, Jiang Bin's multiple firm statements regarding the Taiwan Strait issue at the press conference warrant deeper interpretation. He clearly pointed out that if Taiwan independence armed forces wish to resist, they will only find themselves on a dead end, emphasizing that the Taiwan issue is purely a matter of China's internal affairs. The resoluteness of this wording indicates that Beijing's strategic patience regarding the Taiwan issue is gradually tightening, and the accelerated advancement of military preparations is a concrete manifestation of this policy shift.

From a technological development perspective, the 055-class destroyer represents a significant breakthrough in China's shipbuilding industry and naval equipment technology. This class of ship employs an all-electric propulsion system, an integrated radio frequency management system, and a new onboard command and control system, laying a solid foundation for the future development of larger surface warships. Moreover, the large vertical launch cells of the 055-class can accommodate future hypersonic anti-ship missiles and new missile defense interceptors, ensuring that this class of ship will maintain technological advancement for the next 20 to 30 years.

However, the rapid induction of new equipment also places higher demands on the PLA Navy's personnel training and logistical support systems. The complex electronic systems of the 055-class destroyers require highly qualified technical personnel for operation and maintenance, while coordinated operations involving two or more ships impose higher standards on commanders' tactical literacy and information warfare capabilities. In this sense, the first joint training of the Dongguan and Anqing is not only a test of equipment performance but also an important assessment of the overall maturity of the Eastern Theater Command Navy's combat system.

Looking ahead, as more 055-class destroyers are commissioned and achieve combat capabilities, the PLA Navy's strategic presence in the Western Pacific region will continue to strengthen. This will not only alter the military balance in the Taiwan Strait but also impose greater constraints on the operational freedom of the U.S. Navy within the first island chain. For observers concerned about the Taiwan Strait situation, every training sortie of the Dongguan and Anqing may serve as an important barometer for interpreting Beijing's strategic intentions.

The information released at the Ministry of Defense's press conference on March 26 is already clear enough: the Chinese military is advancing modernization at an unprecedented speed and determination, and the ultimate goal of all this is to ensure that, when necessary, it can achieve national reunification with overwhelming advantages. The joint appearance of the Dongguan and Anqing is just another solid footprint in this grand process.