China is preparing to equip a significantly larger number of warships with advanced hypersonic anti-ship missiles than previously assumed, according to new video footage released by the People's Liberation Army Navy.
The clip shows a Type 052 destroyer launching a YJ-20 missile, a weapon system previously thought to be reserved for larger surface combatants.
This deployment suggests Beijing is moving toward a strategy of distributed lethality, where smaller, more numerous vessels can deliver long-range, high-speed strikes against enemy naval groups.
The revelation adds a new layer of complexity to the security environment in the western Pacific, where tensions have been rising.
The YJ-20 is a supersonic/hypersonic cruise missile capable of evading current missile defense systems, making it a potent threat to aircraft carrier strike groups.
By placing this capability on smaller destroyers, China increases the difficulty for adversaries to track and neutralize potential launch platforms.