China has launched two new Type 052D guided-missile destroyers as it continues its push to upgrade its naval power.
However, some analysts now believe that the pace of shipbuilding will slow as the People’s Liberation Army starts to place more emphasis on training and personnel.
The two new warships were launched at the Dalian shipyard in northeast China last Friday, the state-run newspaper Global Times reported.
“China now has 20 Type 052Ds either in active service or being fitted out for service soon,” the report said, adding that the vessels are a significant upgrade on their predecessors, the Type 052C.
The new Type 055 guided-missile destroyer Nanchang at a naval parade last month. Photo: APShare:
The Dalian Shipyard, which is run by the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, also built the Type 055 destroyers that have been hailed as the most advanced ships of their type in Asia.
The launch of two 055s in July last year also prompted speculation that Beijing wanted to expand and upgrade its navy to compete with the United States, which currently has 66 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
Military analysts, however, said the rapid expansion of the fleet may start to slow down soon.
“The pace of building new warships reached a peak this year as the decision to build most of these new vessels was made by the previous leadership before Xi Jinping came to power and began his military reforms,” said Beijing-based analyst Zhou Chenming.
Global News 
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