On a five-day visit to Hong Kong from November 21 to 25, the amphibious assault ship Hainan 075 and Changsha 052D, both independently developed and built by our guided missile destroyer, to organize a series of open activities for compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao. This is also the first time the 075 amphibious assault ship is open to the public. Experts interviewed by the Global Times said that this shows that the motherland attaches great importance to the compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao, as well as the deep friendship of the mainland people towards the compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao.
A fleet of Hainan and Changsha ships arrived in Hong Kong recently for a five-day visit.
What is the story of the two ships that arrived in Hong Kong for the visit
On April 23,2021, the first amphibious assault ship Hainan warship (Hull No. 31) independently developed by our country was listed in the Navy. According to CCTV, the docks on the Hainan ship mainly carry hovercraft or Landing Craft Utility, while the vehicle depot on the Hainan ship mainly carries heavy armored equipment, such as main battle tanks and amphibious vehicle. As our home-grown first amphibious assault ship, the Hainan has strong amphibious capabilities and performs a wide variety of missions. It is equipped with weapons systems such as missiles, naval guns and electronic warfare, have strong self-defense ability.
As a third-generation guided missile destroyer, the Changsha has strong anti-aircraft, anti-ship, land attack and other integrated combat capabilities. Known as the carrier’s”Guard with a knife”, the Changsha can act alone, but also with the carrier formation such as sea combat missions.
A 47-hour stand-off between the Changsha and three foreign warships in the South China Sea off the coast of Paracel Islands was also revealed in the CCTV military documentary quench. The documentary shows a Changsha ship on its way home, received orders to deal with a sudden enemy situation, immediately rushed to Paracel Islands waters. After 47 hours of tense confrontation, the other side always can not find our weakness, only choose to leave.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the visit is aimed at showcasing the achievements of national defence and military construction in the new era, as well as the strong determination and capability of the People’s Liberation Army to safeguard national sovereignty and security.
More than 10,000 people visited the ship
During their visit to Hong Kong, the Hainan ship and the Changsha ship were open to Hong Kong and Macao citizens, Hong Kong young students and other groups, as well as the officers and soldiers of the Hong Kong garrison and the Macao garrison at the grass-roots level. As of press time, more than 10,000 people had boarded the ship for a visit, it was warmly welcomed by the local people and officers and soldiers.
Zhang Junshe, a military expert, said in an interview with the Global Times on the 24th that this can truly reflect the deep feelings of Hong Kong and Macao compatriots toward the Motherland, standing on the new-type vessels of the motherland can also enable our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao to deeply experience the sense of achievement and security of being Chinese.
The PLA’s visit to Hong Kong, including the Hainan warship, is the latest in a long line of combat ships sent to Hong Kong after the visit of the Liaoning aircraft carrier fleet. At present, only a few countries in the world have large amphibious assault ship, and the Hainan ship is the latest amphibious assault ship.
Zhang Junshe introduced that the organization of ships to open to their own people is the practice of the navies of various countries. Since the reunification, the Ships of the People’s Liberation Army Navy have visited Hong Kong many times and are open to compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao. Zhang Junshe believes that, “We hope to share the fruits of national development, national defense and military construction with our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao, and at the same time to demonstrate the Popular Liberation Army ability to safeguard national sovereignty and security,” he said, in particular, the Stonecutters Island military port, where the fleet docked this time, was once the berthing point for foreign warships in history. At this moment, the Stonecutters Island military port docks are berthed by the modernized main warships of the motherland, with their Flag of the People’s Republic of China blowing in the wind, this scene will make the Hong Kong and Macao compatriots even more proud. At the same time, Zhang Junshe believes that for some evil forces, the display of these national treasures in Hong Kong naturally has a certain deterrent significance, so that they do not dare to plot against China.
There will be more star ships in the future
For the PLA to send its latest major warships to Hong Kong this time, Zhang Junshe thinks it has three meanings: first, to show Hong Kong and Macao compatriots the achievements of China’s national defense and military construction in the new era, they can also let our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao feel the strength of the motherland’s national defense, enhance national pride, and enhance patriotism. Secondly, Hong Kong is a”Bridge” and a”Window” for opening up to the outside world. The latest major warships will visit Hong Kong, it can also let the outside world see the achievements of the development and construction of the Chinese military and the spiritual outlook of the officers and soldiers of the naval fleet. Third, the visit of the fleet to Hong Kong will enable the officers and soldiers of the fleet to experience first-hand the tremendous changes that have taken place since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, i have experienced firsthand the contributions made by our compatriots to the Modernization Drive of the motherland and their profound friendship with the Popular Liberation Army.
According to public reports, Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Starry Lee, a legislator, and Chan Yung, a legislator, boarded the Hainan ship on the 22nd. Starry Lee later posted on a social media platform, saying: During the 2024 and Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress sessions as well as the intersessional period, she joined other representatives to put forward the “Proposal on seeking more policy support from the central government for patriotic education in Hong Kong”, it mentioned the hope that the state can send an active fleet to visit the port, and hold the ship open day.
“The visit of the naval fleet to Hong Kong and the holding of the Open Day is not only a response to the requests of various sectors in Hong Kong, but also a very meaningful patriotic education to further deepen the friendship between the people of the mainland and Hong Kong,” Zhang said.
In addition, during the public open day, Mr. Leung said, we look forward to our warships to come to Hong Kong, such as the 055 destroyer, the best future Fujian can also come. In this regard, said Zhang Junshe, this is something to look forward to. At present, the Fujian vessel has not yet been put into service, and is still undergoing sea trials. When conditions are ripe for the future, it is highly likely that it will be open to the public. The People’s Navy is an open service and there will be more star ships visiting Hong Kong in the future.