Exercises Modernization Military Diplomacy

Two Generations of 'China Aegis' Ride the Waves on Distant Voyages

两代“中华神盾”踏浪远航

PLA Daily (解放军报) 21 June 2026

Summary

The Xi'an (Type 052B) and Nanjing (Type 052D), representing two successive generations of PLAN guided-missile destroyers, are presented as conducting sustained high-intensity operations including Gulf of Aden escort missions, foreign joint exercises, and combat-readiness patrols. The article documents the PLAN's framing of its destroyer force as a continuously deployed, operationally seasoned blue-water asset rather than a prestige or deterrence symbol — the specific pairing of an older and newer hull type extends the institutional record of how the Navy narrates generational capability progression to its own personnel and to a domestic public audience.

Translation

Riding the Waves on Distant Voyages ■ Che Panwen, Wei Jingjing

'China Aegis' Cleaves the Waves with Thunder

Over the past decade and more, a number of new-type missile destroyers of the People's Navy have successively entered service. Owing to their outstanding area air defense and over-the-horizon strike capabilities, military enthusiasts and netizens have dubbed them the 'China Aegis' (中华神盾).

Whitecaps fly and wakes extend. The Xi'an and the Nanjing, as representatives of two generations of 'China Aegis,' maintain a state of high-intensity combat readiness and training year-round, repeatedly sailing to distant seas to carry out diverse missions including Gulf of Aden escort operations, joint exercises with foreign militaries, and combat-readiness patrols. To put to sea is to go on campaign; an alert is an order. During missions, officers and enlisted personnel make no distinction between day and night—only the rotation of watches and standby watches.

Equipment iterates; the heading toward the deep blue remains unchanged. Two generations of 'China Aegis,' through each successive departure, have written their duties and mission into the tracks of ocean-going voyages.

Graphics: Zhao Yahui

Original Chinese

踏浪远航 ■车盼雯魏静静 “中华神盾”雷霆斩浪 10多年来，人民海军一批新型导弹驱逐舰先后入列服役，因其出色的区域防空和超视距打击能力，被军迷网友誉为“中华神盾”。浪花飞溅，航迹延伸。西安舰与南京舰，作为两代“中华神盾”的代表，常年保持高强度战备与训练状态，一次次奔赴远海执行亚丁湾护航、中外联演、战备巡航等多样化任务。出海即出征，警报即命令。任务期间，官兵没有昼夜之分，只有值更与备更的轮转。装备迭代，驶向深蓝的航向不变。两代“中华神盾”用一次次起航，将职责与使命写入远洋航迹。制图：赵亚会