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South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
How is China using Shandong's visit to Hong Kong to boost patriotism, reflect power?
As Hong Kong celebrates the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule, Beijing has once again deployed a powerful naval fleet, this time spearheaded by the aircraft carrier Shandong, highlighting both symbolic significance and strategic resolve amid escalating geopolitical tensions. China's first domestically built aircraft carrier and its fleet arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday morning, embarking on a five-day visit, which is set to include public tours this weekend. The Shandong is accompanied by three other domestically designed warships – the destroyers Yanan and Zhanjiang, and the frigate Yuncheng – as well as a dozen advanced J-15 carrier fighters and helicopters. The visit echoes the highly publicised arrival of the Liaoning carrier strike group eight years ago. But according to military analysts and political observers, the Shandong's visit holds greater significance due to current geopolitical sensitivities and historical context. 'The primary purpose of sending China's first home-built carrier to Hong Kong is to offer a direct, profound insight into the nation's comprehensive strength, military modernisation and armed forces development,' said Song Zhongping, a former People's Liberation Army (PLA) instructor. The military expert also described the event as 'a unique exercise in patriotic and national defence education'.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong crowds welcome aircraft carrier Shandong as city leader hails visit
China's first independently designed aircraft carrier, the Shandong, sailed into Hong Kong waters on Thursday morning, with thousands of people flocking to the coast and hilltops and even renting water taxis to welcome the vessel and three other warships to the city. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu inspected a guard of honour on the deck of the 70,000-tonne carrier, accompanied by two senior naval officers, and was given a tour of the ship in the late afternoon. He attended a welcoming ceremony in the morning where he stressed that the visit demonstrated 'rock-solid' national security. During the inspection, Lee was accompanied by Lieutenant General Jia Jiancheng, deputy commander and chief of staff of the Southern Theatre Command, and Lieutenant General Cheng Jian, deputy political commissar of the PLA Navy. 'We witnessed the heroic figure of the navy up close, experienced first-hand the grandeur and advancement of the country's modern military vessels, felt the military's professional excellence, perseverance and selfless dedication,' Lee later wrote in a social media post. 'This also fully demonstrated the demeanour of the Chinese People's Liberation Army as a 'mighty and civilised force'.' 02:21 Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong arrives in Hong Kong for 5-day visit Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong arrives in Hong Kong for 5-day visit The warship was escorted by the missile destroyers Yanan and Zhanjiang, and the missile frigate Yuncheng, with the carrier hosting a series of open tours and cultural exchange activities in the city until Monday.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong draws crowds in first HK visit
The Shandong passed through Hong Kong waters before anchoring on the western edge of Victoria Harbour. (AP pic) HONG KONG : China's first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, sailed into Hong Kong waters today in its first visit to the Asian financial hub, accompanied by three People's Liberation Army vessels including missile destroyers. The five-day visit, coming soon after Hong Kong marked the 28th anniversary of its return from British to Chinese rule, is one of the biggest shows of Chinese military force in Hong Kong in recent years. China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, was rebuilt from a decommissioned Soviet naval vessel and visited Hong Kong in 2017. Last month, both these Chinese ships had conducted the first known dual aircraft carrier operation in the Pacific, in what senior Taiwanese and Japanese officials said signified China's expansionist aims beyond its borders. Stretching 315m in length and weighing up to 70,000 tonnes, the Shandong passed through Hong Kong waters before anchoring on the western edge of Victoria Harbour with J-15 fighter jets and Z-18 helicopters on its flight deck. The Chinese missile destroyer Zhanjiang and the missile frigate Yuncheng docked at a PLA naval base on Stonecutter's Island, according to the official Xinhua news agency. The tradition of Hong Kong hosting some of the world's most advanced warships extends back to the decades before 1997, when the city returned to Chinese rule. It was once one of the most popular destinations in Asia for US navy port visits. After 1997, China still allowed some US navy ships to visit, including aircraft carriers like the USS Kitty Hawk in 2008, USS Nimitz in 2010, and USS Ronald Reagan in 2018, but as geopolitical tensions grew, these US port visits became rarer and were eventually blocked altogether by Beijing. Hong Kong leader John Lee welcomed the Chinese strike group, noting that thousands of public tickets to visit the flotilla had been snapped up. Lee said the public could 'gain a deeper understanding of the achievements in (China's) national defence modernisation'. Some spectators gathered along the shoreline with binoculars and zoom lenses to catch a distant glimpse of the ships. 'To see this kind of development, where within 20 to 40 years it has progressed to the current level, is very impressive,' said Richard Yip, who travelled from his hometown of Dongguan in southern China's Guangdong province. 'Not every country can achieve this.'
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong arrives in Hong Kong for 5-day visit
For more on this story: The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong and its accompanying strike group arrived in Hong Kong on July 3, 2025. Their five-day visit marks the first time one of the country's fully domestically built carriers has visited the city. The 70,000-tonne warship was escorted by missile destroyers Yan'an and Zhanjiang, and the missile frigate Yuncheng. The vessels will host a series of open tours and cultural-exchange activities in Hong Kong until July 7.
