Pakistan 2026 and the PLA's Multidimensional Countermeasures in the South China Sea

From early April to early May 2026, the situation in the South China Sea once again became the focus of security competition in the Indo-Pacific region. The "Balikatan 2026" joint military exercise, led by the United States and the Philippines, commenced in late April, with participating forces reaching as high as 17,000 personnel, setting a record for the largest scale of exercises in that year's series. More significantly, the Japan Self-Defense Forces participated for the first time as a complete combat unit, while Australia and Canada also sent vessels to join, forming a multinational naval task force consisting of 11 ships in the waters north of Luzon Island in the Philippines. In response to this unprecedented large-scale military presence, the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) launched multidimensional countermeasures, including bomber patrols, live-fire exercises with surface ship formations, forward deployment of aircraft carrier strike groups, and sea trials of new amphibious assault ships, achieving new heights in scale, intensity, and tactical coordination in recent years.

On May 1, 2026, a spokesperson for the Southern Theater Command confirmed that naval and air forces conducted combat readiness patrols in the air and sea near Scarborough Shoal. According to multiple sources, the naval and air force configuration for this operation was exceptionally elite: the aerial forces included at least two H-6 long-range bombers, each armed with YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missiles. Among the J-16 fighter jets providing escort for the bombers, at least one was observed carrying YJ-91 cruise missiles. This missile is a domestically improved version of the Russian Kh-31, available in both anti-ship and anti-radiation configurations. On the surface ship side, two 054A-class frigates, the Bayan Nur (hull number 551) and the Tongliao (hull number 554), along with a 056A-class light frigate, the Hanzhong (hull number 648), participated in the patrol simultaneously.

Meanwhile, the PLA Navy conducted more targeted actions in broader maritime areas. The aircraft carrier strike group of the Liaoning (hull number 16) crossed the Taiwan Strait into the South China Sea for deployment following the start of the Balikatan exercise, with its J-15 carrier-based aircraft conducting high-frequency takeoff and landing training during this period. Notably, a surface action group led by the 055-class destroyer Zunyi (hull number 107) advanced directly to the waters east of Luzon Island and organized live-fire shooting exercises. Additionally, at least four Chinese naval vessels, including an 815-class electronic reconnaissance ship, conducted full-range tracking and monitoring of the multinational naval task force.

From the perspective of equipment development, the PLA Navy's first 076-class amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, officially departed Shanghai on April 23, 2026, heading into the South China Sea for its first cross-regional sea trials and training missions. The 076-class is estimated to have a full-load displacement of over 40,000 tons, featuring a twin-island design and a full-length flight deck. Its most prominent technical feature is the installation of electromagnetic catapults and arrestor wires, theoretically capable of supporting the takeoff and landing operations of the J-35 stealth fighter and various types of carrier-based drones.

From a macro perspective, the PLA's response reflects three new characteristics: multi-domain coordination, significant geographical expansion, and a strategic increase in transparency. The four actions—strategic bomber patrols, surface escort formations advancing, aircraft carrier strike group maneuvering, and electronic reconnaissance ships conducting close monitoring—were closely coordinated. The 055 destroyer group advanced to the outer waters of the first island chain, extending maritime denial capabilities deeper. The Southern Theater Command proactively released information, indicating that Beijing is adopting a more assertive public stance on South China Sea issues.

In summary, the military competition in the South China Sea during Balikatan 2026 essentially mirrors the strategic competition between China and the United States in the Indo-Pacific region. Through multidimensional joint naval and air operations, the PLA demonstrated the combat capabilities of its rapidly modernizing blue-water navy while also testing the tactical value of new equipment in real confrontation environments.