China parades naval ships

(Agencies/Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-23 17:10

QINGDAO - China celebrated its military confidence at sea on Thursday, when anniversary celebrations for the founding of its navy climaxed with a show of the warships and submarines.

The fleet parade off the eastern port city of Qingdao marks 60 years since the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.

Chinese President Hu Jintao announced the start of the naval parade of 25 naval vessels and 31 aircraft Thursday afternoon, including two of China's nuclear-powered Long March submarines, and vessels capable of firing ballistic missiles far from the country's shores.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's missile destroyer Shijiazhuang is ready to join the PLA naval fleet parade marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PLA Navy in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Thursday April 23, 2009. [Xinhua] more photos

"China does need a stronger navy... Even if we can't surpass the United States, a stronger navy can help to counter that influence and protect China's own interests," said Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing.

The PLA Navy has come from nothing to "a modern maritime force capable of effectively defending national sovereignty and security", the Liberation Army Daily said.

In a recent deployment into distant waters, Chinese warships have sailed to off the Somali coast to guard against pirates attacking merchant vessels.

But China's naval modernisation has far from erased a technological gap with the United States and other major powers.