88 Xu Xiake's hull designation is integrated support vessel. Her sister ship is very likely to have the same designation. They house the crew, naval aviator, and engineering personnel when the paired carrier is under maintenance. She is also used at sea for logistic support of training missions.
Xu Xiake has some defensive weapons: 37 mm machine guns, and anti-submarine rocket launchers. She also has a lot of simulators for carrier operation training.
Other than expat evacuation, she probably won't be a part of the carrier group in actual combat.
