70th Anniversary of PLAN

Mr_C said:

Well the PLAN sent the 113 Qingdao to Royal Australian Navy centenary back in 2013. So I guess the Aussies are just returning the favour on similar grounds.

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KIENCHIN said:

Yes. I was there and it was quite embarrassing. Guess the Aussie’s are returning the favour.

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Hmm I think we may be forgetting just how recent and rapid China's naval transformation has been. In 2013 PLAN had roughly ten destroyers older than 113 Qingdao in service, and eleven newer, so she was basically middle of the range. Also, any of China's newer destroyers would've been significantly larger than anything operated by the RAN at the time, which I suspect would've been a diplomatic faux pas. An 054A frigate might've been a better choice, though.

Did the PLAN request the ROKN to not send their Sejong the Great class destroyers out of fear of having their 055 overshadowed?

SinoSoldier said:

Did the PLAN request the ROKN to not send their Sejong the Great class destroyers out of fear of having their 055 overshadowed?

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More likely that visiting nations know that out-shining the host (not that Sejong the Great would necessarily do that) is a diplomatic faux pas, and that sending your latest and greatest can look like insecurity *cough* Russia *cough*.

(But of course you still want to send a ship that is modern enough to reflect well upon your nation, and which honours the significance of the event that you have chosen to attend and its host.)

SinoSoldier said:

Did the PLAN request the ROKN to not send their Sejong the Great class destroyers out of fear of having their 055 overshadowed?

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But seriously, I think you already know what serious answers you will get.

Bltizo said:

But seriously, I think you already know what serious answers you will get.

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Nice.

Lethe said:

More likely that visiting nations know that out-shining the host (not that Sejong the Great would necessarily do that) is a diplomatic faux pas, and that sending your latest and greatest can look like insecurity *cough* Russia *cough*.

(But of course you still want to send a ship that is modern enough to reflect well upon your nation, and which honours the significance of the event that you have chosen to attend and its host.)

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On a serious note, sending a capital ship shows that the nation takes the visit seriously. Sending a front-line asset is more diplomatic vs sending a second-rate vessel in this regard.

Which is why I'm a bit surprised that the ROKN didn't send a destroyer at all.

SinoSoldier said:

On a serious note, sending a capital ship shows that the nation takes the visit seriously. Sending a front-line asset is more diplomatic vs sending a second-rate vessel in this regard.

Which is why I'm a bit surprised that the ROKN didn't send a destroyer at all.

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The ROKN sent Dokdo in 2009. they sent a frigate this time. I see no reason in reading anymore into it. Naval reviews can be a way of communicating a relationship. But one's own naval demands come first. Do we think there are any particular reasons for why the ROKN might be interested in keeping some of their more capable naval assets for other missions in the interim?

Japan, India and Russia have chosen to send their front-line ships, Australia and SoKo have decided otherwise. I suppose gentlemen here are making too far drawn conclusions out of thin air.

Lethe said:

Thanks for the news, glad to see that Australia is represented! Still, it's an odd choice of ship. HMAS Melbourne is the oldest surface combatant in the fleet and due to retire shortly.

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probably the US didn't allow the Australia to send the modern ship with American parts to China ... worried it might be copied by the Chinese

The last time there was an Australian Navy regional exercise that invited different countries, which was sometime earlier this year, the PLAN sent a Type 054A. The PLAN usually sends a Type 054A.