Chinese Navy to visit three Asian nations for exercises

The real reason why they opted for search and rescue as the focus of the exercises (if that is what they are doing), is most likely to be because it is simple, and hard to screw-up, and so reducing the chance of any of the nations involved embarrassing themselves

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Maybe this is just a starter excersise. Nothing complicated so all sides can achieve some sort of accomplishment. I wish them well.

As an USN sailor for 20 years I use to love these type of excersises. It is intresting to see how different navies can work together.

Usally during one of these excersise's what ever CV I was on was required to re-fuel one of the other nations ships. Usally a frigate or DD. Man when we went along side it seems the whole crew of what ever ship we were refueling was on deck taking pictures of our CV and waving etc. Some even held placards with messages on them. It was always a delight to see. One thing I like was the different paint used on the ships. Seems navies use different shades of grey and that grey-green color like the PLAN..I hope one day a USN CVN will refuel a PLAN ship.....Well I can dream can't I??

When PLAN ships visit foreign ports, their sailors are strictly controlled. Mostly they will attend some group acitivities such as a basketball match with a team from the local navy (they played with USN teams many times), or visit to a museum.

The only time I saw PLA sailors are allowed to go shopping 'freely' was last year when they visited Hong Kong (not really a foreign visit). Chinese state media particularly reported that PLAN sailors went shopping at local shops.

PLAN has so far conducted joint exercise with Pakistan, India and UK. I think we might be able to see a PLAN-USN joint exercise after 2008 if the relation between two countries improves

Dongfeng said:

When PLAN ships visit foreign ports, their sailors are strictly controlled. Mostly they will attend some group acitivities such as a basketball match with a team from the local navy (they played with USN teams many times), or visit to a museum.

The only time I saw PLA sailors are allowed to go shopping 'freely' was last year when they visited Hong Kong (not really a foreign visit). Chinese state media particularly reported that PLAN sailors went shopping at local shops.

PLAN has so far conducted joint exercise with Pakistan, India and UK. I think we might be able to see a PLAN-USN joint exercise after 2008 if the relation between two countries improves

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That would suck.. No fun Navy there. I can't imangine that happening to the USN. The USN would restrict your time on liberty depending on the port. For instance have you return to the ship by midnight. Hey do the PLAN sailors have to wear their uniforms on liberty?(sic).

I have hosted JMSDF sailors years ago. The main things those boys want to do is buy American pornography(I'm serious)and get drunk...Real drunk. Also try to find a good Japanese resturant. My son says the JMSDF sailors have not changed much they do the same things...

PLAN and USN excersise after the 2008 Olymipcs?? Humm maybe it could be one CVBG against another?? I'm dreaming..or am I???

The reason sailors are restricted from "shopping" most likely because of security issues. Think about it: every sailor aboard that Chinese destroyer knows a large amount about the interiors of that ship. You have any idea how many countries would love to know secrets about Chinese destroyers? The reason is security, nothing else.

crazyinsane105 said:

The reason sailors are restricted from "shopping" most likely because of security issues. Think about it: every sailor aboard that Chinese destroyer knows a large amount about the interiors of that ship. You have any idea how many countries would love to know secrets about Chinese destroyers? The reason is security, nothing else.

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Really? Humm? Why is the PLAN so sercrective about it's surface ships? I can't think of any other Navy that does that. I've made tours on numerous different navies ships. Most smaller surface ships combatant ships are similar. So what the big secrect. Yes I've been in CIC on several different ships...Once again..What's the big deal?

Another thing ..why not let the fellows on the ship go on liberty and have a few beers or whatever? That's what all the other navies in the world do. Can't imangine being in a foriegn port and having liberty restriced. No booze, No women, No excitment, No Fun! Just basketball games and trips to cultural sites.BORING!!!. I say let 'dem boys go out and mingle with the locals. That's part of being a sailor.

Hey do PLAN sailors have tatoos? I have two by the way. A butterfly and a Gargoyle. Got 'em in Hong Kong back in '75 in the Wanchi district.... 'cause I was a REAL sailor!

Actually I would love to really talk to a PLAN sailor.

the PLA have a very strict policy on their image, that of course include the navy and air force. correct me if i'm wrong, but as far as i know, tattoos are not allowed, because in asian society it is generally viewed as a bad thing. most of the people in china that have tattoos before (not anymore) are with some kind of organized crime, so it is generally not well received. this is also a reason they don't want their sailors to go to get drunk and pick up women, because it will lose face for them. a sober soldier is less likely to get into a stupid fight with some locals than a drunk one.

bd popeye said:

Actually I would love to really talk to a PLAN sailor.

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i guess u have to start learning Mandarin then... lol...


well i don't think security is as big an issue as the whole "face-saving" thing...
i think PLA just wants to maintain a clean image... and probably wants to avoid clashes and bad plubicity, esp when their at a time that they want to convince the world they are having a peaceful military rise.....

this is also a reason they don't want their sailors to go to get drunk and pick up women, because it will lose face for them. a sober soldier is less likely to get into a stupid fight with some locals than a drunk one.

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I agree. Sometimes young men have a hard time controlling themselves. When I visited another country my main goal was to see a few sights, get a good meal. Have a couple of drinks. I've never been a drunkard. Too many sailors get in trouble after abusing alcohol. It was real bad in my day.

I understand the statements of PiSigma and Chopsticks. Every culture is different. Having any service member present a good image is important.

In fact, when USN ships visited Chinese ports such as Qingdao and Zhanjiang, their sailors were not allowed to have too much fun neither (apart from when they were in Hong Kong). And believe me, every time when there were foreign warships visiting Chinese ports, Chinese security services would follow those foreign sailors wherever they went just in case.

Dongfeng said:

In fact, when USN ships visited Chinese ports such as Qingdao and Zhanjiang, their sailors were not allowed to have too much fun neither (apart from when they were in Hong Kong). And believe me, every time when there were foreign warships visiting Chinese ports, Chinese security services would follow those foreign sailors wherever they went just in case.

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You are correct to an extent. My son and about 80 guys on his ship took a two day tour of Beijing. Cost about $300 USD. They knew they were being watched. They did not travel always as a group. He said it was a great time in China. My son has said more than once that Qindao and Beijing were the top places to visit during his deployment in 2002.