Escalation of Strategic Games in the South China Sea: Deep Signals from the Live Fire of YJ-20 Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missiles by the 055 Class Destroyer Zunyi

In late April 2026, a significant military development emerged in the Asia-Pacific security landscape: as the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy aircraft carrier Liaoning fleet crossed the Taiwan Strait into the South China Sea, the Southern Theater Navy's 107 fleet simultaneously conducted large-scale realistic training exercises in the waters east of Luzon Island, Philippines. The flagship of the fleet is the 055-class destroyer Zunyi (hull number 107), and the training subjects cover core operational elements such as live-fire shooting, air-sea coordination, rapid maneuvering, and underway replenishment. Notably, the Chinese military released real combat footage of multiple YJ-20 (Eagle Strike-20) hypersonic anti-ship missile launches through the "China Military" social media account, including at least two previously unpublished launch clips. The timing of this series of actions is highly sensitive—coinciding with the start of the US-Philippines "Balikatan 2026" joint military exercise, which is the largest bilateral military exercise in the 75 years since the signing of the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, involving over 17,000 troops, with Japan participating for the first time as an official combatant.

From a technical perspective, the YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile represents the most advanced sea-based strike capability within China's anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) system. The missile's range is estimated to be between 500 to 800 nautical miles (approximately 1,000 to 1,500 kilometers), with a cruising speed of up to Mach 6 and a terminal dive attack speed accelerating to Mach 10, far exceeding the effective interception speed window of existing shipborne air defense systems. This means that surface ship formations deployed in the Philippine Sea and surrounding waters—including aircraft carrier strike groups—are all within its strike coverage. It is worth noting that the YJ-20 is launched from the 055-class destroyer, which has a full-load displacement of over 12,000 tons, NATO codename "Renhai-class," equipped with a 112-cell vertical launch system, making it the second-largest surface combatant in the world after the US Zumwalt-class. The Zunyi, as the core command platform of the 055-class fleet, being present in the waters east of Luzon Island itself constitutes a high-level strategic signal.

The strategic implications of this exercise extend far beyond mere weapon demonstrations. A spokesperson for the Southern Theater clearly stated that this action is a "necessary response to the current regional situation." The direction of this statement is very clear: the US-Philippines "Balikatan 2026" exercise is not only unprecedented in scale but also shows a clear shift in operational subjects from traditional disaster relief to high-end maritime combat, including joint amphibious landings and deep-sea strikes. Japan's involvement further complicates the situation—Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer "Ikazuchi" previously crossed the Taiwan Strait to participate in the exercise and completed its first overseas live-fire deployment on Philippine soil, using the Type 88 anti-ship missile. From Beijing's strategic perspective, this marks a substantial advancement in the trilateral military alliance between the US, Japan, and the Philippines, posing a direct challenge to China's strategic security environment.

In-depth analysis reveals that the PLA's counteraction reflects a significant upgrade in the "training for training" strategy in recent years. Unlike previous responses that relied solely on coast guard law enforcement or diplomatic statements, this time the Chinese military adopted a multidimensional, high-intensity military response: on one hand, the Liaoning aircraft carrier fleet demonstrated strategic presence through the Taiwan Strait, including multiple destroyers, frigates, and comprehensive supply ships; on the other hand, the 107 fleet, centered around the 055-class destroyer, conducted live-fire exercises in close proximity to the exercise area, publicly broadcasting footage of hypersonic missile salvos. This dual-track model of "aircraft carrier forward presence + hypersonic weapon deterrence" effectively conveys a clear message to the US and its allies—that any military confrontation in the South China Sea will face a comprehensive response from China's navy's far-sea maneuvering combat system.

Particularly noteworthy is the information warfare dimension reflected in this action. On April 27, the "China Military" account released a video of the YJ-20 launch, which, although not marked with specific time and location, included at least two segments that differ from the footage of the 055-class destroyer Wuxi's test launch in December 2025. The timing of the video release—just two days after the start of the "Balikatan 2026" exercise and two days before the Southern Theater announced the 107 fleet's training—shows clear signs of careful orchestration. This intertwining of weapon testing and military exercises, with precise media platform deployment, has become a standard maneuver in the strategic competition of contemporary great powers.

From a broader geopolitical perspective, the escalation of military competition in the South China Sea occurs at a convergence of multiple strategic shifts. The Japanese Ministry of Defense is accelerating its breakthrough of post-war military system constraints: officially amending the "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment," which in principle allows the export of lethal weapons; planning to restore military rank titles such as "Colonel" from the era of the old Japanese Empire; and setting up legislation through the National Security Council. These measures were sharply criticized by Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, during a routine press conference on April 30, who pointedly accused Japan of "rushing down the path of re-militarization" and questioned whether it would "again become a source of disaster in East Asia." Meanwhile, the US military plans to build a large military fuel depot in Davao City, Philippines, to support the long-term forward deployment of ships and aircraft, which has also raised strong concerns from China.

The Chinese navy's demonstration of the YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile's combat capability carries deep strategic significance, showcasing an increasingly mature maritime denial system to the US and its allies. The hypersonic flight characteristics of the YJ-20 make it nearly impossible to be effectively intercepted by existing shipborne air defense systems, while its range of 500 to 800 nautical miles significantly compresses the operational space of US carrier strike groups in the Philippine Sea. This is precisely the strategic motivation behind the US's active promotion of the "Golden Dome" space interception system—expected to cost over $175 billion, with a goal to be operational by January 2029 to address the new threats posed by hypersonic weapons. However, in the current reality where the US and its allies have not deployed any hypersonic weapons, the existence of the YJ-20 itself constitutes an asymmetric strategic counterbalance.

In summary, the military competition in the South China Sea at the end of April 2026 marks a new phase in the security competition in the Asia-Pacific region. The Chinese navy is no longer satisfied with coastal defense and limited presence demonstrations but is actively shaping strategy in the core waters of the Western Pacific with a complete far-sea combat formation, the most advanced hypersonic strike weapons, and systematic information operations. The deepening of the US-Japan-Philippines trilateral alliance and China's military countermeasures have formed a clear antagonistic spiral. The upcoming 2026 Xiangshan Forum pre-meeting, scheduled to be held in Beijing from May 7 to 9, with the theme "Global Security Governance: Challenges and Solutions," inviting over 120 representatives from more than 30 countries and international organizations, may provide a dialogue buffer window for this increasingly tense regional security situation. However, against the backdrop of continuous military capability upgrades and the ongoing depletion of strategic mutual trust, whether multilateral dialogue alone can effectively manage conflict risks remains an open question.