Well, I would not include the Type 053s as modern, state of the art effective FFGs for the blue water. Nor would I include the FACs for any blue water consideration. Coastal defense and operations within the first island chain, yes. Blue water operations, no.
I would add the Type 054s in there...but only marginally because their self defense in terms of anti-air are severely lacking and they are therefore very vulnerable.
I would also add the Sovs and the Type 052Bs and Type 051Cs in there as strong blue water platforms...but not the Type 051B or the 052s...for the same reasons. Their air defense capabilieites are severelly lacking.
When you get down to it, with the six 052Cs and ultimately, let's say eight 052Ds (though we do not know how many they will actually build), and then with the two 052Bs, two 051Cs and four Sovs, the PLAN will have a total of 22 what I consider very effective, modern blue water DDGs.
With the 16 Type 054As and two Type 054s they will have 18 strong, state of the art blue water FFGs.
These 40 vessels represent a significant force in the Western Pacific, and when you add to them the new carriers the PLAN is contemplating, one of which is already commissioned, and the three LPDs, and whatever follows them, the PLAN is developing a very capable and very robust surface fleet.
I still contend that their great weakness in this regard, particularly in the blue water, is the lack of strong, state of the art SSNs in any appreciable numbers. It is a severe liability and vulnerability for them. Until they address this, in any potential conflict they will be at a very significant disaddvantage if they get outside the 1st island chain.
