Pacific Weekly #75
Good morning and happy Sunday,
This is Pacific Weekly, a premium exclusive of The Intel Brief intended to keep you updated on events across the hotly contested Indo-Pacific region.
Reporting Period: November 17-23, 2025
Bottom-Line Up Front:
1. On November 14, China’s first Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship began its inaugural sea trial from Shanghai’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Company. The ship’s capabilities greatly expand China’s ability to conduct air operations at sea, and to support future ship-to-shore operations, such as an invasion of Taiwan.
2. From November 14 to 25, Chinese military assets conducted live-fire drills and incursions in or around Japanese territory. The military provocations are a result of an ongoing diplomatic row between Tokyo and Beijing.
3. On November 17, Taiwan began distributing its newest civil defense guide. This is the first contingency document that has been distributed to civilians directly. Previous versions or similar products were self-procured, indicating the degraded security environment in the region.
China’s First Type 076 Begins Sea Trials
Summary
On November 14, China’s first Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship began its inaugural sea trial from Shanghai’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Company. The ship’s capabilities greatly expand China’s ability to conduct air operations at sea, and to support future ship-to-shore operations, such as an invasion of Taiwan.
Findings
Background: On December 27, 2024, the PLA Navy (PLAN) unveiled the Type 076 “Sichuan” Amphibious Assault Ship at the Shanghai Shipyard (The Inel Brief). On November 14, 2025, Xinhua reported that the Type 076 (hull number 51) began its first sea trial (The Maritime Executive, Xinhua).
Xinhua reports that the vessel will conduct its first navigation test, as well as verify the vessel’s power and electrical systems (Xinhua). It is likely that the vessel will also test its ability to deploy tactical aircraft.Capabilities: The Type 076 is the world’s largest amphibious assault ship and features an electromagnetic launcher, flight elevators, and a floodable well-deck (The Intel Brief, Xinhua). The Type 076 is capable of deploying fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft as well as small surface vessels, all in support of supremacy operations and ship-to-shore movements (The Intel Brief, Xinhua).
The Type 076 likely has a critical role in the PLAN’s large-scale naval employment concept:
Why This Matters
First and foremost, the launch of sea trials for the Type 076 indicates a leap in the vessel’s development lifecycle and operational capability. China is rapidly working to develop an amphibious assault capability, and it is succeeding.
Given the Fujian aircraft carrier’s recent successful sea trial and its first “live-force training at sea,” it is increasingly likely that the PLAN will deploy these vessels for a joint demonstration in the near future (People’s Daily Online). It is also increasingly likely that these vessels will be employed alongside each other for show-of-force exercises against Taiwan, and to train on amphibious operational concepts.
In the past, China conducted exercises around Taiwan during its National Day celebrations and during the inauguration anniversary of President Lai Ching-te. President Lai’s inauguration anniversary is May 20, 2026, which could give China enough time to conduct sea trials before it launches more large-scale exercises.
Chinese Incursions Against Japan Increase Amid Diplomatic Row
Summary
From November 14 to 25, Chinese military assets conducted live-fire drills and incursions in or around Japanese territory. The military provocations are a result of an ongoing diplomatic row between Tokyo and Beijing.
Findings
Background: On November 7, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi said in parliament that a Chinese military action against Taiwan could qualify as an existential threat to Japan, potentially triggering Japan’s right to collective self-defense (The Guardian). She framed such a scenario as not just a Taiwanese issue, but one that could threaten “the survival” of Japan (The Guardian).
Beijing strongly criticized Takaichi’s remarks which were interpreted as Japan’s intention to militarily intervene on Taiwan’s behalf, likely alongside the U.S.-led alliance in the Pacific (Politico). China’s foreign ministry and its embassy in Japan issued a public advisory telling Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan “in the near future,” citing what it claimed was a dangerous environment for Chinese nationals (The Guardian).Naval Incursion: On November 16, a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) formation trespassed into the territorial waters of the Senkaku Islands (NBC News). A statement by the CCG characterized the formation as a “rights enforcement patrol,” implying the Japanese islands are Chinese sovereign territory (NBC News).
NBC News reports that “joint combat patrols” and aerial incursions around Taiwan coincided with the incursion into the Senkakus (NBC News).
“China Coast Guard vessel 1307 formation conducted patrols within the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands. This was a lawful patrol operation conducted by the China Coast Guard to uphold its rights and interests.”
Other Measures: Conflicting reporting, but sometime between November 15 and 17, Japan confirmed that it scrambled aircraft after detecting a Chinese drone near Yonaguni Island (CBS News).
China reportedly conducted two distinct live-fire drills in the Yellow Sea, one from November 17 to 19, and a second from November 18 to 25 (Institute for the Study of War).
Why This Matters
China’s military incursions are a classic coercive measure; it is a show of force against the new Takaichi government. The drills and incursions also allow China to test Japan’s SOPs and responsive actions.
China’s pressure campaign will likely shut down near-term diplomatic progress and push both governments into firmer opposing positions. Tokyo may feel obligated to increase defense cooperation with the U.S., while Beijing may interpret that as justification for even more coercive activity. This feedback loop makes dialogue harder, increases the risk of miscalculation at sea, and leaves both countries with fewer off-ramps if an incident turns violent.
Taiwan Begins Distributing Civil Defense Handbook
Summary
On November 17, Taiwan began distributing its newest civil defense guide. This is the first contingency document that has been distributed to civilians directly. Previous versions or similar products were self-procured, indicating the degraded security environment in the region.
Findings
Background: On September 16, 2025, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense published “In Case of Crisis,” a civil defense handbook intended to educate Taiwanese citizens on how the civil and military sectors would respond and coordinate during crises (Taipei Times, AP News).
(Further reading @ The Intel Brief)
Distribution: On November 17, it was reported that the Taiwanese government will be distributing the document for citizens for the first time, instead of self-procurement (Reuters). The handbook includes details of how to prepare and respond to crises related to weather, infrastructure, and conflict (Reuters).
Contents: The educational material is split into two sections, Material Preparation and Self-Help Knowledge:
Material Preparation: This section provides insights into daily home storage for sustaining oneself during a crisis, as well as constructing and maintaining an emergency shelter kit for sustainment when displaced from home (Taiwan MND).
Self-Help Knowledge: This section offers insights into “how to save yourself” during a crisis. It includes disaster response skills and resources, casualty management and basic first aid, discerning fake and legitimate media and crisis updates, and how to develop a mindset to persevere during a crisis (Taiwan MND).
Apps: Alongside the new publication, Taiwan’s MND also previously directed citizens to a “Fire and Disaster Prevention e-Point App” and a “Police Service App,” both of which are available on the App Store and Google Play (Taiwan MND).
Why This Matters
Taiwan has been publishing and updating these civil contingency guides since 2022, but the government’s active distribution of the product to Taiwanese citizens suggests Taipei has growing cause to educate (and potentially mobilize) its populace.
The year 2027 is fast approaching, and officials and analysts believe it could be the year China invades Taiwan. That means preparing and integrating civilian components into the island’s defenses is becoming increasingly imperative.
End Brief
That concludes this edition of Pacific Weekly.
Thank you for reading!
— Nick
This publication is an Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) product and does not contain Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or Classified Information.