PLA Navy's crucible of future warship leaders
For almost four decades, the Zheng He has served as an operational classroom and floating instrument of China's maritime diplomacy
Floating national territory
In the ship's honor room, a display wall features naval crests from 14 foreign nations, highlighting its role as an ambassador for China's maritime posture. During overseas visits — from Australia to New Zealand and Indonesia — the ship acts as a sovereign outpost, often welcoming overseas Chinese communities and conducting military diplomacy.
Navigation officer Wu often uses this space as the main venue for her ship history lectures, broadcasting live to three classrooms of cadets. The Zheng He's "diplomatic resume" — 16 overseas voyages visiting 29 countries and regions — remains an indispensable topic.
Wu recounted the ship's visit to Australia, saying going abroad teaches self-reflection, not mere admiration of others.
During that visit, she and other representatives from the Zheng He toured an Australian amphibious assault ship, which opened its joint operations center to Chinese visitors.
Zhang Zhiyou, an instructor from the academy in Dalian, said: "Overseas visits expand our horizons and also showcase the PLA's image to the world. Our Navy personnel are diplomats in uniform, and we have a duty to tell China's story and amplify China's voice."
During a visit to Indonesia amid local unrest, the ship's interim Party committee decided not only to keep the ship open to visitors as planned but to extend visiting hours and expand reception capacity. One overseas Chinese resident from Jakarta said that seeing the ship from the motherland greatly relieved his anxiety.
In New Zealand, an 80-year-old Chinese expatriate handed out homemade pastries daily to the ship's crew, clasping their hands and saying that seeing them made him see the hope of the motherland.
"Truly, Chinese expatriates living far from home travel great distances to attend our ship's open days, just to set foot on this 'floating national territory', to see their own military personnel and to hear the familiar accent of home," said Wu.
The veteran training ship is preparing once again to slip its moorings, carrying a new class of midshipmen out into open waters.
Wang Zhao contributed to this story.
zhangxiaomin@chinadaily.com.cn
