I agree they probably can, they're newer ships with better electronics. But China is only really competing with itself. Just because a 688i could hold its own against Akula did not stop US from pursuing Virginia class. In the context of the PLAN, we have both large and smaller destroyers that should complement eachother.
Im rather proposing the idea that China should create a military that can fight and win anywhere in the world, which will be commensurate with China's economic size and able to defend Chinese interests globally.
I think at least some sectors of the government agree. Why otherwise have huge facilities like Huludao? Or why rush 6th gen fighters? The idea might be that the current forces exist mostly to provide many platforms to train up an even larger military.
We can defend ourselves in Asia, there's no doubt about that. But to defend China's global economy, there should be devoted a bit more wealth, and a more militant attitude.
There are many countries that feel envy towards China's economy, they spread revanchism and agitate for economic, even military support for attacks on China. If we have built a vast military, we can counter proposals to economically attack China the way US countered Gaddafi's proposal to economically attack them.
China's interests are abroad, in keeping resources flowing to the state and keeping global markets open. I also believe that aggressor nations should be actively curtailed away from the global market. To achieve this, the recruitment drive for an expeditionary force to end all expeditionary forces should be funded.
