The People's Liberation Army Navy is set to deploy at least one of its Type 903A comprehensive supply ships to the disputed South China Sea to strengthen its force projection capability in the area, reports China's nationalistic Global Times tabloid.
China recently launched its fifth and largest Type 903A supply ship, the Fuchi, on May 31 in Guangzhou in southern China's Guangdong province. With the capability to carry 11,000 tonnes of cargo, the 23,000-tonne Type 903A can provide fuel and rations to Chinese warships operating in the open sea. It can fuel two warships simultaneously during the operation, while it can also carry two Z-8 helicopters, which can be used to airdrop supplies to other vessels.
Read the full story at Want China Times