Thayer Consultancy Background Brief:

ABN # 65 648 097 123

China to Commission First Type
075 Landing Helicopter Dock
Carlyle A. Thayer
December 19, 2020

We request your analysis of the following four issues:

Q1. It has been reported that China’s Type 075 Landing Helicopter Dock (Type 075
LHD) will be commissioned into service, probably next year. What is the significance
and the role of this amphibious assault ship, and what capabilities does it add to the
People’s Liberation Army (PLA)?
ANSWER: For the past several years China has doubled the size of its Marine Force.
They have been dependent on eight Type 071s. This has limited the PLA’s capacity to
transport men and equipment and because they only embark four helicopters. The
Type 075 Landing Helicopter Dock is a next generation assault ship that can embark
30 helicopters and up to 900 marines.
The Type 075 can carry out multiple roles depending on the kinds of helicopters
embarked on it and the weapons and equipment carried by the marines. The
helicopters can be used for vertical assault. The Type 075 has a water well in the stern
and can launch hovercraft and small assault vehicles for a beach landing.
The Chinese media has stressed the importance of the Type 075 LHD in using force
against Taiwan, particularly because of the steep mountainous terrain on Taiwan’s
east coast. A vertical helicopter assault would overcome this problem.
The Type 075 can also be configured for other war-fighting tasks such anti-ship and
anti-submarine warfare, combat air support or serve as a command-and-control
centre at sea. At the non-war fighting end of the spectrum, the Type 075 LHD can assist
in maritime security (anti-piracy), non-combatant evacuation, and humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief operations.
Q2. What does the new assault ship indicate about China's ambitions? Is it a rival to
U.S. Navy vessels?
ANSWER: China’s new Type 075 LHD is a clear indication that China seeks to project
power in the maritime domain. The Type 075 LHD adds new capabilities to China’s
naval strike force and is suited for combat against small isolated islands in the South
China Sea. China has built two Type 075 LHDs, the first of which is expected to come
into service next year, and China is currently completing construction on a larger third
LHD.
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Currently, China’s LHDs do not present a major challenge to the United States that
possesses seven of the larger Wasp-class LHDs, two America-class LHAs (Landing
Helicopter Assault) and eleven San Antonio-class LPDs (Landing Platform Dock). The
U.S. operates AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft and F-35B Lightning II STOVL or vertical
jet fighters from its Wasp-class LHDs and America-class LHAs.
China’s LHD is smaller than Japan’s Izumo-class DDH and the United States’ Wasp-class
LHD, roughly equal in size to Italy’s Trieste-class LHD, and larger than France’s Mistral-
class LHD (and the Spanish/Australian LHD); see picture below.

The real challenge that China poses to the United States is the capacity of its
shipbuilding industry to build LHDs at a faster rate than any country in the world. China
can be expected to build larger LHDs in the future.
Q3. The Type 075 LHD vessel underwent a sea trial in the South China Sea last month.
So, in your opinion, was there any message or signal Beijing wants to send?
China’s first Type 075 LHD has conducted two sea trials, one in the relatively calm
waters off Shanghai and the other in the South China Sea, a more challenging maritime
environment. The fact that China will base the Type 075 LHD at Sanya on Hainan island
indicates that it will be part of the Southern Fleet that has responsibility for the South
China Sea as well as Taiwan contingencies.
China’s Type 075 LHD can be used for naval diplomacy and naval influence operations,
including intimidation.
Q4. And with all the moves by China this year such as allowing its coast guard to use
weapons in waters it controls, what is your forecast about the South China Sea
situation next year? Do you think China’s moves are a test to see how the Biden
Administration will respond?
ANSWER: China will continue “business as usual” and deploy its coast guard, maritime
militia and fishing fleet to assert China’s claims to sovereignty over the four shas. China
will harass oil exploration carried out by littoral states in waters within its nine-dash
line. The China Coast Guard will to continue to patrol waters near Luconia Shoal in
Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and near Vanguard Bank in Vietnam’s EEZ.
Chinese fishermen will continue to swarm around the Philippines’ Pagasa (Thitu)
island.
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China will continue to enforce its unilateral annual fishing ban from May to August in
the waters above twelve degrees north, north latitude. China’s law authorizing its
Coast Guard to use armed force is a form of lawfare to provide justification for the
actions of its law enforcement ships.
The first six months of the Biden Administration will be a testing time if China decides
to stage a provocation or intimidate a regional state. Biden must get any evenly
divided Senate to approve his nominations for the Cabinet, including the Secretaries
of State and Defense and Director of National Intelligence, as soon as possible. Biden
will need persons he trusts in office to execute his orders.
The U.S. will also see a change in commander of the Indo-Pacific Command. The new
commander will lend continuity to U.S. policy; but the new national security team will
need time to work smoothly together.
Under U.S. law, the Biden Administration must submit its National Security Strategy
to Congress within 150 days. Once approved, the Pentagon will draw up a National
Defence Strategy, Maritime Strategy and Indo-Pacific Strategy. During this time it will
become clear if the Biden Administration will follow through on a late initiative by the
outgoing Trump Administration to recommission Navy’s First Fleet for operations in
the Indo-Pacific.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “China to Commission First Type 075 Landing
Helicopter Dock,” Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, December 19, 2020. All
background briefs are posted on Scribd.com (search for Thayer). To remove yourself
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Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
other research support to selected clients. Thayer Consultancy was officially
registered as a small business in Australia in 2002.