China's naval forces are marking their 70th anniversary. And they definitely have something to celebrate, as the nation's naval capabilities have grown exponentially over the past decade – and are set to expand even more. A large maritime parade off the large port city of Qingdao, as well as various ashore festivities, were attended by foreign naval officers and military officials from over 60 countries. China’s naval forces have been represented at the massive event with 32 vessels and some 40 maritime aircraft. Some 20 ships of several other nations have participated in the parade as well, including military vessels from Russia, India, Vietnam and Thailand. China's navy, officially known as the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) was created 70 years ago, on April 23 1949. Over the first two decades of its existence, it used to be a solely coastal defense force, but in the 1970s the navy grew dramatically, becoming a mighty regional force. Heavy investment pays off During the 21st century, China's naval doctrine shifted towards the green-water navy, capable of operating away from home shores and projecting the country's strength overseas, instead of just protecting territorial waters. The country invested heavily in the development of domestic shipbuilding capabilities and expanding its naval force even further. A large number of surface and subsurface ships were commissioned, and the navy's operational capabilities have been growing at truly amazing pace. Only a decade ago, China did not have any aircraft carriers. It procured the first one –Liaoning – in 2012, purchasing an unfinished Soviet aircraft-carrying cruiser Varyag from Ukraine – and immediately started to build a domestically-developed one. The first homegrown carrier, 77,000-ton Type 001A vessel was built in 2017 and is expected to enter service this year. The beautiful carrier missed the navy's 70th anniversary celebrations, however, since it's currently undergoing sea trials. While the vessel has not entered service yet, an upgraded variant – a Type 002 – is already under construction. Dominating the region – and beyond? While actively building up its naval muscle – and not being shy to flex it – China insists the modernization of the fleet is solely defensive and needed only to ensure peace. “Everyone should respect each other, treat each other as equals, enhance mutual trust, strengthen maritime dialogue and exchanges, and deepen pragmatic cooperation between navies,” China's leader Xi Jinping said on Tuesday, while meeting foreign naval officers. In China's mind peace definitely comes through strength, as its navy already dominates the regional waters. It still drags behind the sprawling naval forces of the United States, and has less nuclear submarines than Russia, yet it is unmatched in the region, political scientist and military expert Aleksandr Khramchikhin believes. “It's already pointless to compare [China's Navy] to its neighbors. The Japanese surface fleet might try to compete with the Chinese one, yet it's already quite pointless. There's no comparison with the others altogether,” Khramchikhin told RT. The operational capability of China's fleet, however, gradually falls with distance from home shores – like any other nation's fleet, actually, Khramchikhin explained. “In the waters close to China, it already has a complete superiority over US fleet. With the distance, the balance changes – and it's largely determined by geographical position,” he added. Also on rt.com VIDEO shows China’s 1st home-built aircraft carrier in action during sea trials Like this story? Share it with a friend!<doc-sep>China's navy on Tuesday celebrated 70 years since its creation with a large naval parade in the western port of Qingdao, showing off new military hardware that it hopes will bolster its global reach. The parade featured 39 aircraft and 32 ships, including the Liaoning aircraft carrier and the Nanchang, the first of a new generation of Chinese-made guided missile destroyers. The first domestically produced aircraft carrier, known only as "Type 001A," was absent as it underwent sea trials. Read more: Can China rival the US Navy in the Pacific? Eighteen warships from India, Japan, Vietnam, Australia and nine other countries also took part in the parade. Onboard the Xining, a destroyer commissioned two years ago, President Xi Jinping told sailors, "Comrades, thanks for your hard work." "Hail to you, chairman," they replied. "Serve the people." Xi Jinping reassured foreign naval officers that China was only interested in "peace" 'Peaceful development' Xi, who also heads the military, is overseeing a plan to modernize the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Under his leadership, China has alarmed its neighbors and the United States by beefing up its military presence in the South China Sea. Earlier on Tuesday, Xi told foreign naval officers in Qingdao that the Chinese people longed for peace and would "unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development." Read more: South China Sea: China protests after US warship sails near island "Everyone should respect each other, treat each other as equals, enhance mutual trust, strengthen maritime dialogue and exchanges, and deepen pragmatic cooperation between navies," he said. South China Sea countries are building larger navies Pride of the Chinese armada The first Chinese aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, was originally a Soviet model built in 1986. In 1998, the stripped hulk was sold to China by Ukraine and rebuilt by the Dailian Shipbuilding Industry Company in northeastern China. It was completed in 2012 and has been ready for service since 2016. South China Sea countries are building larger navies 'Black holes' for Vietnam In recent years, Vietnam has acquired six Russian Kilo-class submarines. Two were delivered in 2017. The subs are nicknamed "black holes" by the US Navy, because they run very quietly and are difficult to locate. They are specialized for missions in shallow waters and for defense against enemy ships and submarines. South China Sea countries are building larger navies Flagship of the Philippines The BRP Gregorio del Pilar is the flagship of the Philippine Navy. The vessel is one of three former US Coast Guard cutters that were acquired by the Philippines. The ship was first put in service in 1967 and it was modernized in 2011. In 2012, it was involved in the dispute with the People's Republic of China over Scarborough Shoal. South China Sea countries are building larger navies Warships from European shipyards Indonesia is in the process of buying new ships and modernizing its navy. Pictured here is the KRI Sultan Hasanuddin, a Sigma-class corvette. The ship was built in 2007 in the Netherlands. Germany also supplies warships to countries in the region. The Kasturi-class corvettes in Malaysia and Brunei's Darussalam-class high-seas patrol boats come from German shipyards. South China Sea countries are building larger navies Singapore's stealth ships Singapore is unmatched for hi-tech in the region. Since 2007, the city-state has put six Formidable-class stealth ships in service. All of them were built in France. South China Sea countries are building larger navies The long arm of the US Navy The only truly global naval power remains the US Navy. The seventh fleet is stationed in the Pacific. It is the largest forward-deployed fleet of the US Navy with 50-60 ships, 350 aircraft and 60,000 personnel. This includes the only US aircraft carrier stationed outside of the US, the USS Ronald Regan, stationed at the US naval base in Yokosuka, Japan. Author: Rodion Ebbighausen (wr) US no show The United States sent a low-level delegation to Qingdao but did not send any ships to take part in the parade. The US Navy regularly sends its warships through the South China Sea to challenge what it sees as excessive Chinese claims in the area. China opposes these so-called freedom of navigation exercises near its bases in the Paracels and Spratlys island chains, and Chinese vessels often shadow their US counterparts when they stray near to Chinese-claimed territory. amp/sms (Reuters, dpa, AP) Every evening, DW sends out a selection of the day's news and features. Sign up here.<doc-sep>The PLA Navy held its largest ever fleet review in the South China Sea last year. Photo: Xinhua<doc-sep>
The Admiral Gorshkov frigate of the Russian Northern Fleet arrives in the port of Qingdao to take part in a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of China's Navy. The Chinese people love peace and countries should not threaten each other with the use of force, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday as he kicked off a large-scale naval parade marking 70 years since the founding of China's navy. Xi is overseeing a sweeping plan to refurbish the People's Liberation Army (PLA) by developing everything from stealth jets to aircraft carriers as China ramps up its presence in the disputed South China Sea and around self-ruled Taiwan, which have rattled nerves around the region and in Washington. The navy has been a key beneficiary of the modernization plan, with China looking to project power far from the country's shores and protect its trading routes and citizens overseas. Meeting foreign naval officers in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao, Xi said the navies of the world should work together to protect maritime peace and order. "The Chinese people love and long for peace, and will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development," Xi added, in remarks carried by the official Xinhua news agency, after foreign reporters were asked by Xi to leave the room. "Everyone should respect each other, treat each other as equals, enhance mutual trust, strengthen maritime dialogue and exchanges, and deepen pragmatic cooperation between navies," he added. "There must be more discussions and consultations between countries, and there cannot be resorts to force or threats of force at the slightest pretext," Xi said. "All countries should adhere to equal consultations, improve crisis communication mechanisms, strengthen regional security cooperation, and promote the proper settlement of maritime-related disputes." Xi is expected to review the naval parade from sea later in the day, though it is unclear whether poor weather in Qingdao — with mist and driving rain — could affect the event. The parade will feature 32 Chinese vessels and 39 aircraft, as well as warships from 13 foreign countries including India, Japan, Vietnam and Australia. China has said it will display for the first time new nuclear submarines and warships. China has frequently had to rebuff concerns about its military intentions, especially as military spending continues to scale new heights. Beijing says it has nothing to hide, and invited a small number of foreign media onboard a naval ship to watch the parade, including from Reuters. China's last naval battles were with the Vietnamese in the South China Sea in 1974 and 1988, though these were relatively minor skirmishes. Chinese navy ships have also participated in international anti-piracy patrols off Somalia's coast since late 2008.