China’s Type 055 Destroyer Deploys Electronic Warfare Missiles Near Taiwan in Naval Confrontation

On January 29, 2026, CCTV released footage depicting the Type 055 destroyer Yanan patrolling maritime areas close to Taiwan. The video opens with vigilant crew members scanning the skies, officers observing tactical displays, and the vessel maintaining steady navigation as the situation gradually escalates with incoming aerial contacts. According to SCMP, the incident unfolded in "waters near Taiwan island," although the broadcast did not specify the aircraft identities or the precise timing of the event.

What set this footage apart was not just the locale but the manner in which the action advanced. A lookout, peering through binoculars, seemed to identify a potential threat and promptly commanded preparations for the starboard side. The destroyer then detected multiple groups of aircraft adjusting their flight paths nearby. Prior to any visible retaliation, the film highlighted the ship's surveillance, alertness, and the intensifying coordination within a contemporary warship's combat system.

Designated as a guided-missile destroyer, China’s Type 055 boasts a larger and more potent profile than typical destroyers. Credit: CCTV

This broadcast formed part of a larger CCTV series spotlighting China's maritime forces, with SCMP noting it as an uncommon public glimpse of one of the PLA Navy's cutting-edge destroyers engaging with foreign aircraft. This context matters since the footage framed the encounter as a calculated demonstration of preparedness rather than an isolated flare-up escalating immediately to combat.

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Transition from Surveillance to Defensive Measures

As reported by SCMP, the destroyer intensified its radar emissions as more aircraft appeared on the horizon. This shift amplified detection range and primed the vessel for launching both active and passive electronic countermeasures. The CCTV segment also featured the nearby aircraft carrier Shandong dispatching three fighter jets to corroborate the presence of foreign aircraft. The footage then advanced from simple tracking to visible deployment of countermeasures.

CCTV indicated this was the inaugural public showing of the destroyer employing "electronic countermeasures" near Taiwan to deter foreign aircraft. The video displayed launchers firing what SCMP referred to as electronic jamming missiles. It showed four missiles being launched after the ship completed its detection and readiness phase, although sources didn't claim the missiles targeted the aircraft directly.

This footage confirms for the first time China’s naval forces publicly exhibiting electronic warfare strategies in this area. Credit: CCTV

This distinction shapes the incident’s interpretation. The sequence publicly illustrated a tactics-based electromagnetic disruption maneuver rather than a direct offensive strike. SCMP noted that the report did not identify the aircraft's nationality, and no official statements from Taiwan, the US Indo-Pacific Command, or Japan’s Ministry of Defense referenced the event. Instead, the video revealed a vessel focused on complicating enemy targeting through advanced defenses.

Purpose of the Electronic Jamming Missiles

The coverage detailed two forms of electronic interference being utilized. The destroyer prepared missiles capable of active and passive electronic jamming, consistent with SCMP’s breakdown. Active jamming involves emitting signals to disrupt adversary sensors, while passive jamming deploys measures that obscure or mislead radar tracking. Essentially, the ship aimed to distort its electronic signature and sensor inputs.

One of the clearest insights pertained to passive jamming. The CCTV commentary described these electronic defenses as a method to discourage encroaching aircraft, aligning with SCMP’s characterization of the missiles as a crucial element of this protective approach. The footage first extended the ship’s radar range before initiating missile-based electronic counteractions, emphasizing sensor denial over conventional combat engagement.

The Type 055 destroyer Nanchang was filmed maneuvering to intercept foreign vessels near the Liaoning carrier group. Credit: CCTV

The footage was released shortly after a significant US arms transfer to Taiwan and during elevated diplomatic tensions with Japan. Credit: CCTV

The coverage also included another Type 055 destroyer, Nanchang, maneuvering near the Liaoning carrier group to block two foreign ships from approaching. This additional clip broadened the strategic narrative, showing coordinated fleet actions combining aerial surveillance with surface-level interception.

Why This Destroyer Garnered Focus

The Type 055 destroyer is central to China’s modern strategy for blue-water naval dominance. SCMP identified Yanan as one of the People's Liberation Army Navy's most sophisticated surface combatants, engineered both for escorting aircraft carriers and conducting independent operations. This design underscores why the footage highlighted sensor performance and electronic warfare capability as much as missile deployment.

The timing added further context. While SCMP concentrated on the immediate event, the release also aligned with ongoing regional tensions involving Taiwan’s surrounding seas. Though the footage doesn't clarify the intruding aircraft’s origin, it suggests why state media chose to spotlight this encounter featuring a large destroyer using electronic defensive measures near Taiwan’s waters.

Despite the detailed visuals, several key facts remain undisclosed. SCMP noted the report lacks information on the exact time and place of the encounter, while CCTV's public material provides only the January 29 airing date alongside a brief note about the destroyer's electronic warfare proficiency. Nevertheless, the footage clearly depicted the vessel evolving from tracking foreign aircraft to boosting radar emissions and finally deploying jamming missiles in a confrontation near Taiwan.