Why Chinese destroyer totals need a replacement allowance

Will China wait for numerical superiority in major surface ships, excluding carriers, before acting against Taiwan?

The reply doubts it. China may work toward numerical superiority, but replacing older ships complicates the comparison.

The numerical comparison depends on how many older Chinese warships still need replacement. Counting every destroyer can overstate the number suitable for demanding modern operations. Type 052 and Type 055 destroyers are distinguished from older ships included in some totals. A headline hull count therefore gives an incomplete picture of the force available.