It is the largest armed coast guard cutter in the world, surpassing the previous record holder, the Japanese Shikishima class.
The chief engineer of Jiangnan Shipyard, Hu Keyi, stated that the company was contracted to build two 10,000-ton maritime patrol vessels.
[2] In January 2014, Beijing Daily and Global Times reported that the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), parent company of Jiangnan Shipyard, posted on their website that they signed a contract in 2013 to build two maritime patrol vessels, one of which is 10,000 tons.
[6][8] The large size gives the vessel abundant fuel and supplies to carry out extended missions in vast open waters.
Observers have noted that the large size of the Zhaotou class gives it an intimidating factor over neighboring coast guards and foreign vessels.
The think tank also noted the significance of the ships possessing naval guns, indicating that China is adopting a more aggressive stance towards it maritime disputes.
Previous Chinese coast guard ships were either unarmed, lightly armed, or simply equipped with just water cannons.
[1][3][10] Japan, likewise, procured three additional Shikishima-class vessels between 2016 and 2018 due to the need to "strengthen security around the Senkaku islands".