China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has commenced sea trials for its first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, Sichuan, a vessel marking a significant leap in naval capabilities. Displacing over 40,000 metric tons and equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system for launching various aircraft, including drones and tiltrotor craft, the Type 076 enhances China’s capacity for both amphibious operations and aerial dominance. Strategically, this development aligns with China’s broader ambitions for power projection in contested regions such as the South China Sea and around Taiwan, following closely on the commissioning of its newest aircraft carrier, Fujian. The operational deployment of the Sichuan by the end of 2026 underscores China’s ongoing naval modernization and its intent to fortify regional territorial claims amid rising geopolitical tensions.