2009 Naval Review to be held in China

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Seven ships from three countries have so far confirmed they will join the international fleet review in Qingdao, Shandong province, headquarters to the North China Sea Fleet, one of three naval fleets in China.

The 6,800-ton USS Fitzgerald DDG-62, a Japan-based destroyer from the 7th fleet, will attend the review, scheduled for April 20-24.

The confirmation came after the announcement of US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead's visit to China, agreed to by President Hu Jintao and US President Barack Obama during the G20 summit in London last week.

Admiral Roughead will meet his Chinese counterpart, commander in chief of the PLA navy Admiral Wu Shengli, during his visit. The US navy also announced that Vice Admiral John Bird, the 7th Fleet commander, will join Roughead.

The purpose of Roughead's visit is to foster naval and military relationships between the two nations and explore areas for enhanced cooperation, said Roughead's spokesman Captain Conrad Chun.

Admiral Noman Bashir, Chief of Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy, also told China Daily earlier that Pakistani Navy frigate PNS Badr 184 and supply ship PNS Nasr 47 will join the fleet review, and he may also attend the celebrations.

Three warships from the Eastern Fleet of the Indian navy, which include missile destroyers INS Mumbai, INS Ranveer, missile corvette INS Khanjar and tanker INS Iyoti left India for China on March 20 for the fleet review, Indian media reported earlier.

Two warships of Russia's Pacific Fleet, which completed an anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden, started a visit to the south China port of Zhanjiang, headquarters of the South China Sea Fleet, on Monday. These ships will pass by the review host city Qingdao on their journey back to Vladivostok. More than 40 naval vessels from 15 countries are expected to take part in the celebrations.

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Navy admiral: China to develop sophisticated marine weapon systems

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2009-04-15 23:15:31 Print

BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Large surface combat ships, supersonic cruise aircraft, high-speed intelligent torpedoes ... These are a few sophisticated marine weapons China plans to build.

"The Navy will move faster in researching and building new-generation weapons to boost the ability to fight in regional sea wars under the circumstance of information technology," Navy Commander Admiral Wu Shengli told Xinhua in an exclusive interview-- one week ahead of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.

In addition to ships, aircraft and torpedoes, long-range missiles with high accuracy, submarines with superb invisibility and endurance and electronic weapons and facilities are also on the Navy's agenda.

He said the Navy would have more equipment for offshore repair, high-seas dispatch, large-scale rescue and supply among others.

According to Wu, the Navy will incorporate the capacity for non-war military actions to the integrated construction of the army's power, especially emergency offshore search and rescue and anti-terrorism activities.

Since 2003, President Hu Jintao has repeatedly inspected the country's Navy and made suggestions on its construction.

"The navy force should be strengthened and modernized under the guidance of the Deng Xiaoping Theory and the 'Three Represents' to serve the country and its people more effectively," said Hu when meeting with representatives of the navy's 10th Party congress on Dec. 27, 2006.

China has huge strategic benefits in sea areas and current threats to our country's security come mostly from the seas, said Hu, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Hu urged the Navy to achieve sound and fast development and enhance the defensive operations with information technology.

Admiral Wu Shengli said regrouping the army system, optimizing army structure and distribution in battlefields were among the issues for more discussion during the new round of the Navy construction.

In 2009, the Chinese Navy would continue its missions in the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Somali coast to protect merchant vessels against spreading piracy.

The Gulf of Aden is one of the world's busiest shipping routes, in which about 1,000 Chinese vessels pass through each year.

Previous reports said more than 40 naval vessels will join a grand international fleet around April 23 in a display to mark the60th anniversary of the founding of the PLA Navy.

The navies of 15 countries have pledged to send ships to the east port city of Qingdao as part of the celebrations and at least28 foreign countries will send delegations, said the officer with the Navy's headquarters.

The officer said the celebrations will be an opportunity for foreign navies to have intensive and close observation of the PLA Navy's facilities and personnel.

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China's People's Liberation Army Navy will hold a grand celebration ceremony to mark its 60th founding anniversary, and 21 naval vessels from 14 countries and delegations from 29 countries will join the event, the country's National Defence Ministry said Saturday.

The ceremony, lasting from April 20 to 23, will be at Shandong province's Qingdao city and off its coast. Its theme is Peaceful Ocean, calling for more intimate and harmonious oceanic safety cooperation between countries.

Many nation's senior military naval officials, including the Chief of Naval Operations of the United States, and the Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief, will attend.

Activities such as seminars, a fleet parade and a sampan race will also be held, to increase the mutual understanding and friendship between naval officials and soldiers, and to promote regional and world peace, stability and development.

The PLA Navy was founded on April 23, 1949, with nine warships and 17 boats obtained after a unit of the Kuomintang's second coastal defense fleet defected to the PLA.

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2009)

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Navy to develop new warships, aircraft: admira

Large surface combat ships, supersonic cruise aircraft, high-speed intelligent torpedoes ... These are a few sophisticated marine weapons China plans to build.

"The Navy will move faster in researching and building new-generation weapons to boost the ability to fight in regional sea wars under the circumstance of information technology," Navy Commander Admiral Wu Shengli told Xinhua in an exclusive interview -- one week ahead of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.

In addition to ships, aircraft and torpedoes, long-range missiles with high accuracy, submarines with superb invisibility and endurance and electronic weapons and facilities are also on the Navy's agenda.

He said the Navy would have more equipment for offshore repair, high-seas dispatch, large-scale rescue and supply among others.

According to Wu, the Navy will incorporate the capacity for non-war military actions to the integrated construction of the army's power, especially emergency offshore search and rescue and anti-terrorism activities.

Since 2003, President Hu Jintao has repeatedly inspected the country's Navy and made suggestions on its construction.

"The navy force should be strengthened and modernized under the guidance of the Deng Xiaoping Theory and the 'Three Represents' to serve the country and its people more effectively," said Hu when meeting with representatives of the navy's 10th Party congress on Dec. 27, 2006.

China has huge strategic benefits in sea areas and current threats to our country's security come mostly from the seas, said Hu, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Hu urged the Navy to achieve sound and fast development and enhance the defensive operations with information technology.

Admiral Wu Shengli said regrouping the army system, optimizing army structure and distribution in battlefields were among the issues for more discussion during the new round of the Navy construction.

In 2009, the Chinese Navy would continue its missions in the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Somali coast to protect merchant vessels against spreading piracy.

The Gulf of Aden is one of the world's busiest shipping routes, in which about 1,000 Chinese vessels pass through each year.

Previous reports said more than 40 naval vessels will join a grand international fleet around April 23 in a display to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PLA Navy.

The navies of 15 countries have pledged to send ships to the east port city of Qingdao as part of the celebrations and at least 28 foreign countries will send delegations, said the officer with the Navy's headquarters.

The officer said the celebrations will be an opportunity for foreign navies to have intensive and close observation of the PLA Navy's facilities and personnel.

(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2009)

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maozedong said:

DDG 169,171 ship just back from Somalia,I think they will attend the celebration ceremony. just yesterday China official news reported PLAN general commender Admiral Wu Shengli talking about Navy to develop new warships, aircraft.... article below:



Since March of this year, China's official media already repeatedly and openly stressed the need to build aircraft carriers.

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Jeff Head said:

It will be interesting to see what, if any, official announcements are made during this celebration.

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I agree..I'm thinking some sort of truely offical announcement on the PLAN CV programme...

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US admiral: China naval strength no surprise

The growth of China's navy is in line with its economy and "it's no surprise to see it develop the way that it has", a top US naval officer said on Sunday.

"The advancement and growth of the PLA navy are consistent with China's economic advancement and its role in a globalized world," Admiral Gary Roughead, US Chief of Naval Operations, said at a news conference in Beijing.

Roughead soothed worries in some quarters about China's plan to build its first aircraft carrier.

"There has been no doubt in my mind that the acquisition of an aircraft carrier and carrier aviation was something that was clearly an ambition and an objective of the PLA navy," he said.

"The advent of an aircraft carrier on the part of the PLA navy, to me, really doesn't change the nature of our operations at all."

The Pentagon, in its annual report on the Chinese military released on March 25, repeated the litany of "limited transparency". Beijing dismissed it as a distortion of facts.

The US navy chief, who met his Chinese counterpart Wu Shengli on Saturday, emphasized the importance of military exchanges between the two countries.

Tensions between the United States and China rose last month over an incident in the South China Sea. The US claimed five Chinese ships had harassed USNS Impeccable in international waters on March 8. But China said the ship was on Chinese waters and had violated international and Chinese laws.

"That's why visits like mine, relationships like mine with Wu are important."

Wu said last week that the country plans to develop a new generation of warships and aircraft.

Roughead also emphasized working with China to combat piracy in the seas off Somalia.

"The opportunity for our navies to work together against the threat of piracy is very important," he said.

Analysts said Roughead's remarks show the US is keen to strengthen military exchanges with China.

"The US intends to garner more support from the international community and demonstrate its global leadership," said Pan Zheng, a senior researcher in US strategy at National Defense University.

Beijing-based military strategist Wang Jinling said it's important for the two countries to enhance exchanges.

Roughead will attend the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PLA navy in Qingdao, Shandong province, on Thursday.

Twenty-one ships from 14 foreign naval forces – including the US, Mexico, France, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea – gathered in Qingdao on Sunday. They will join the fourth fleet review in China since 1949.

The event is important for the two navies, said Captain Francisco Gonzalez of Mexican ship ARM Cuauhtemoc upon arrival in Qingdao on Sunday.

Cui Xiaohuo in Qingdao contributed to the story.

(China Daily March April 20, 2009)

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QINGDAO, CHINA - APRIL 20: China Navy Commander Adm. Wu Shengli salutes after he made a speech duirng an opening ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy at Qingdao Port on April 20, 2009 in Qingdao of Shandong Province, China. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

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BEIJING, CHINA - APRIL 19: (CHINA OUT) U.S. Navy Admiral Gary Roughead addresses the media during a press conference on April 19, 2009 in Beijing, China. Roughead visits China to join the celebration for the 60th anniversary of Chinese Navy. (Photo by Li Jin/ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images)

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QINGDAO, CHINA - APRIL 19: (CHINA OUT) Chinese sailors welcome the arrival of the USS Fitzgerald at Qingdao Port on April 19, 2009 in Qingdao of Shandong Province, China. China's navy is set to hold a huge maritime ceremony to mark its 60 years of the Chinese navy and has invited ships and top officials from dozens of countries to attend. (Photo by Zhang Lei/ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images)

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QINGDAO, CHINA - APRIL 20: Chinese naval officers check photos after they taken in front of a foreign warship at Qingdao Port on April 20, 2009 in Qingdao of Shandong Province, China. China's navy is set to hold a huge maritime ceremony to mark its 60 years of the Chinese navy and has invited ships and top officials from dozens of countries to attend. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

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QINGDAO, CHINA - APRIL 20: Chinese sailors welcome the Russian missile cruiser Varyag docked at Qingdao Port on April 20, 2009 in Qingdao of Shandong Province, China. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

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NGDAO, CHINA - APRIL 20: Chinese naval soldier gaurds in front of foreign warships at Qingdao Port on April 20, 2009 in Qingdao of Shandong Province, China. C(Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

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QINGDAO, CHINA - APRIL 20: Chinese naval soldier gaurds in front of foreign warships at Qingdao Port on April 20, 2009 in Qingdao of Shandong Province, China. China's navy is set to hold a huge maritime ceremony to mark its 60 years of the Chinese navy and has invited ships and top officials from dozens of countries to attend. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

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QINGDAO, CHINA - APRIL 19: (CHINA OUT) Pakistani naval soldiers arrives at Qingdao Port on April 19, 2009 in Qingdao of Shandong Province, China. China's navy is set to hold a huge maritime ceremony to mark its 60 years of the Chinese navy and has invited ships and top officials from dozens of countries to attend. (Photo by Zhang Lei/ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images)
Copyright: 2009 ChinaFotoPress

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