Chinese navy commissions new-generation frigate to compete with US

China’s first Type 054B was commissioned on Wednesday. Picture: Pu Haiyang/Xinhua via AP

China’s navy has commissioned a new-generation frigate as competition rises with the US and other regional powers, saying the ship will “play a vital role in enhancing the overall combat effectiveness” of its forces.

The country already has the world’s largest navy in terms of number of hulls, although its technology is sometimes seen as lagging.