China’s military identifies US and Japanese destroyers as ‘enemy vessels’

As maritime tensions between Beijing and Washington escalate in the South China Sea, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is reinforcing an asymmetric naval strategy centered on lightweight, agile, and stealth-capable platforms. On April 28, 2025, China's Global Times reported the active deployment of Type 22 fast attack missile boats for intercepting foreign warships and "protecting maritime rights" in contested waters. This revelation comes amid an intensified US naval presence in the region, including the frequent deployment of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers displacing over 10,000 tons near the Spratly Islands. 

The Type 22 missile boat, known in NATO reporting as the Houbei class, plays a central role in China's coastal naval defense doctrine. With a displacement of approximately 220 tons, it was introduced in the early 2000s when China's navy lacked significant blue-water capability. Its design prioritizes speed, stealth, and concentrated firepower.

Featuring a wave-piercing catamaran hull form and powered by four waterjet propulsors driven by two 6,895-horsepower diesel engines, the Type 22 achieves speeds between 36 and 38 knots, with some reports indicating operational bursts up to 50 knots. Its shallow draft of 1.5 meters allows it to operate in the complex littoral environments of the South China Sea, where larger vessels face risks of grounding. The combination of speed, maneuverability, and low radar cross-section makes the Type 22 particularly suited to close-range interception missions in constrained maritime spaces.

Initially developed to replace obsolete coastal patrol craft, the Type 22 entered service in 2004 and incorporates a multi-faceted stealth superstructure with disruptive camouflage schemes aimed at reducing radar detectability. Built largely from aluminum alloy to save weight, the Type 22 remains a significant asset for the PLAN despite technological advances elsewhere in the fleet. As reported by CCTV on April 28, the operational profile of the Type 22 has diversified. In addition to interception, these vessels are tasked with littoral patrols, escort missions, surveillance, and joint operations with China Coast Guard units to assert maritime claims.

A notable instance cited by official media involves a Type 22 vessel, under the command of Yang Wu from the Eastern Theater Command Navy, responding to an order to intercept a foreign naval ship with an estimated displacement of 8,000 to 9,000 tons. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Type 22 exploited its mobility, stealth characteristics, and rapid response capabilities to quickly reach and secure its operating area.

Armed with two quadruple launchers accommodating a total of eight subsonic YJ-83 anti-ship cruise missiles, the Type 22's offensive capability rivals that of much larger frigates. For self-defense, it mounts a six-barrel H/PJ-13 30 mm Gatling gun, positioned forward, intended for engagements against small surface targets and helicopters at close range. Defensive measures also include electronic countermeasures and the deployment of jamming flares.

However, the lack of an integrated Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) limits its defensive resilience against incoming missiles or fast aerial threats. Sensor-wise, the Type 22 is equipped with an H/LJQ-362 surface search radar, an H/ZFJ-1A fire control system with datalink capability for coordinated missile targeting, and an H/ZGJ-1B electro-optical tracking system for visual acquisition and fire control. Its limited onboard detection range makes external sensor networking essential for maximizing its offensive effectiveness, typically relying on data from airborne assets or larger surface combatants within a broader integrated command structure.

During the 76th anniversary celebrations of the PLAN’s founding held in April 2025, the Type 22 was showcased alongside over thirty other active vessels, underlining its ongoing operational relevance. Xinhua News Agency emphasized that the Type 22 remains the first stealth missile boat, the first catamaran warship, and the first main combat vessel equipped with waterjet propulsion fielded by the Chinese Navy. This combination of design features allows the Type 22 to execute high-speed maneuvers while maintaining a reduced acoustic and radar signature, key attributes for survivability and effectiveness in contested maritime environments.

The sustained deployment of the Type 22 class underscores China's commitment to leveraging asymmetric platforms to challenge superior forces in sensitive areas like the South China Sea.

By focusing on speed, stealth, concentrated firepower, and networked operations, the PLAN aims to complicate the operational calculus for larger naval forces such as the United States Navy. In an era of evolving naval competition in the Indo-Pacific, the Type 22 remains a vivid example of how small, agile units can play a disproportionate role in maintaining strategic leverage.