Lethe
Captain
Well the PLAN sent the 113 Qingdao to Royal Australian Navy centenary back in 2013. So I guess the Aussies are just returning the favour on similar grounds.
Yes. I was there and it was quite embarrassing. Guess the Aussie’s are returning the favour.
Hmm I think we may be forgetting just how recent and rapid China's naval transformation has been. In 2013 PLAN had roughly ten destroyers older than 113 Qingdao in service, and eleven newer, so she was basically middle of the range. Also, any of China's newer destroyers would've been significantly larger than anything operated by the RAN at the time, which I suspect would've been a diplomatic faux pas. An 054A frigate might've been a better choice, though.