Chinese Navy visits Pearl Harbor (Updated)

The Chinese destroyer QINGDAO is greeted at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Sept. 6 as she begins the first official Chinese Navy visit to the US in six years. (US Navy photo by MC2 Nardel Gervacio)

After an absence of six years, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has once again come to Pearl Harbor to tie up alongside warships of the US Navy.

A three-ship squadron arrived Sept. 6 for a three-day visit — a reciprocal event after the cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) visited Zhanjiang, China in late May.

US Navy video of the Chinese ships’ arrival:  http://www.dvidshub.net/video/300682/chinese-navy-ships-visit-pearl-harbor#.UiuXzdJqnAm 

The Luhu-class destroyer Qingdao (113), Jiangkai II-class frigate Linyi (547) and Fuqing-class fleet oiler Hongzhu (881) all bore banners of friendship as they came up the harbor’s entrance channel. Banners reading “Enhancing the Friendship between China and the U.S.” and “Promote Sin0-American Friendship. Maintain World Peace,” draped from the Qingdao.   “For the everlasting friendship between China and the U.S.” proclaimed a banner on the Hongzhu.

The ships were greeted by bands, Chinese dancing dragons and traditional Hawaiian dancers, along with senior US Navy leaders.

The Qingdao, a Type 052 destroyer commissioned in 1995, is a veteran of foreign visits, having called in 21 countries over its career. The Type 054A Linyi, on the other hand, is one of the newest ships in the PLAN, being in commission only since last December.

The ships belong to North China Sea Fleet, one three fleets of the PLAN. They left the base at Qingdao, in eastern China’s Shandong province, on Aug. 20. The Chinese squadron also is visiting Australia and New Zealand on this 16,000-nautical mile cruise.

In conjunction with the Chinese squadron visiting Hawaii, Adm. Wu Shengli, head of the PLAN, will meet with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert Sept. 9 in San Diego. Wu will visit the headquarters of the U.S. Third Fleet and discuss China’s upcoming participation in 2014’s Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise.  Greenert and Wu will visit the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in port, and embark the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) at sea. They’ll also visit the U.S. Marine Corps base at Camp Pendleton, Calif., before continuing to Washington.

The QINGDAO, coming up the entrance channel on Sept. 6, made the very same journey on Sept. 6, 2006, the last time the Chinese Navy visited Pearl. (US Navy photo by MC Seaman Johans Chavarro)

The LINYI is one of the Jiangkai II Type 054A frigates, currently in series production for the Chinese Navy. The ship, on her first major overseas cruise, was commissioned in December. (US Navy photo by MC Seaman Johans Chavarro)

The HONGZHU comes in to Pearl. The Fuqing-class fleet oiler is a veteran of overseas cruises. (US Navy photo by MC Seaman Johans Chavarro)

The QINGDAO is nudged to her berth in Pearl Harbor. In the distance, behind the tug, is the battleship USS MISSOURI (BB 63), a memorial at Ford Island. The big white radome is the SBX, a floating missile defense radar. (US Navy photo by MC2 Nardel Gervacio)

The QUINGDAO's crew lines the rails and waves. The weapon system at center is an HQ-7 close-in surface-to-air missile launcher, based on the French Crotale. (US Navy photo by CMC Specialist David Rush)

The Chinese are taking pictures too! A cluster of photographers is around the base of the HQ-7 launchers, while two more are at upper left atop the QINGDAO's bridge. (US Navy photo by MC3 Diana Quinlan)

Adm. Cecil Haney, at right, commander of the US Pacific Fleet, shakes hands with Rear Adm. Wei Gang, chief of staff of the Chinese North Sea Fleet and the head of the visiting delegation, during welcoming ceremonies. (US Navy photo by MC2 Nardel Gervacio)

Hawaiian keiki (children) perform traditional dances during the welcoming ceremonies. (US Navy photo by MC1 Daniel Barker/)

The LINYI approaches her berth. There will be at least 20 of these Type 054A frigates, the first of which was launched in 2006. Fifteen of the 3,900-ton ships are now in service. (US Navy photo by MC3 Diana Quinlan)

The QUINGDAO and LINYI are berthed at left across from the host ship, USS LAKE ERIE (CG 70). The cruiser normally is assigned to ballistic missile defense testing. (US Navy photo by MC2 Nardel Gervacio)

Typical of many visitors to Pearl Harbor, the Chinese paid their respects at the Battleship ARIZONA Memorial. Here, Liu Jian, China's consul-general in Los Angeles; Chinese ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai, US Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Cecil Haney, and Rear Adm. Wei Gang, head of the visiting Chinese Navy delegation, throw flowers into the memorial's wishing well. ( (US Navy Photo by MC2 David Kolmel)

Chinese sailors carry out damage control techniques with LAKE ERIE sailors on Sept. 8. The digital camouflage pattern of the Chinese working uniforms is similar in concept to the US Navy's aquaflage Navy working uniform Type 1, commonly known as the blueberry. (US Navy photo by MC Seaman Apprentice Rose Forest)

In San Diego on Sept. 9, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert hosted Commander in Chief of the People's Liberation Army Navy Adm. Wu Shengli on a tour of naval facilities and ships. (US Navy Photo by MCC(SW/AW) Julianne Metzger)

Adm. Wu listens while he tours the control room of the attack submarine USS JEFFERSON CITY (SSN 759) at San Diego on Sept. 9. (US Navy Photo by MCC(SW/AW) Julianne Metzger)

Wu poses with JEFFERSON CITY commanding officer Cmdr. Brien Dickson on the sub's brow. (US Navy photo by MC2 Kyle Carlstrom)

Christopher P. Cavas
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Christopher P. Cavas

If it's on, over, under or around the water, I write about it. Ships and aircraft, units, tactics, leadership, strategies, acquisition, politics, industry. In the USA and around the world.
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