China’s Gator Navy

China’s first Real Big Amphib (LHA) has begun sea trials:

The Type 075 is 237 meters long, and displaces some 40,000 tons, making them slightly smaller than either the Wasp- or America-class amphibs of the United States. Reportedly, the amphibs can carry 900 troops plus heavy equipment and landing craft, with an aviation component of up to 30 helicopters. As the U.S. Navy has maintained since the conversion of the first flat-decked amphibs in the 1960s, while such ships lack the high-end capabilities of modern large carriers, they can perform a multitude of tasks from amphibious assault to humanitarian assistance/disaster relief to anti-submarine warfare to combat air support. As of yet, China lacks either a STOVL fighter (like the Harrier or the F-35B) or a STOVL transport (like the MV-22 Osprey), but the ships nevertheless offer Beijing useful new tools of influence.