China commissions 'next-generation' stealth frigate

BEIJING: China today commissioned its "next-generation" stealth frigate, amidst a series of maritime territorial disputes with some of its neighbours.

The country's first "type 056" stealth frigate, formerly known simply as ship 582, was renamed Bengbu at a commission ceremony held in a naval port in Zhoushan, a coastal city in east China's Zhejiang Province, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Type 056 frigates are a new generation of vessels developed independently by China and expected to be deployed primarily for escort missions and anti-submarine operations.

Chinese navy has commissioned a new-type guided missile destroyer which can be independently used to attack enemies' ships and submarines.

The ship named "Changchun" was commissioned recently at a military port of a troop unit in Zhoushan City of east China's Zhejiang province, state run People's Daily online reported.

Last month China commissioned new-type closed air defence guided missile destroyer with fully-load displacement of 6,000-odd tonnes.

It has greater long-range warning, detecting and regional air defence capabilities, and can be used independently or with other naval strength to attack enemies' surface ships and submarines, said the official media.