Aircraft carrier visit gives Hong Kong a national security education boost
much-awaited visit of China's first fully domestically built aircraft carrier kicked off yesterday with a great deal of public excitement – and symbolic significance. The arrival of the mighty Shandong and its accompanying strike group is not only a showcase of the country's military prowess and naval modernisation, but also a timely opportunity for patriotic and national security education.
Unlike the
Liaoning , a refitted
Ukrainian vessel commissioned in 2012, the visiting carrier – named after the eastern province of Shandong – is the first to have been independently designed, built and equipped by China. When the 70,000-tonne warship sailed into Hong Kong waters yesterday morning, it was flanked by missile destroyers Yanan and Zhanjiang and missile frigate Yuncheng. On the deck of the carrier were white-clad navy personnel neatly arranged in the shape of the Chinese characters for 'with national security, our homes are safe'. The visit was also live-streamed for the first time by the official military social media account China Bugle, attracting more than 15 million views.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said residents could experience the magnificence and advanced nature of the nation's modern naval vessels and gain a deeper understanding of the achievements of national defence modernisation. 'This visit represents national defence and security safeguarding high-quality development, demonstrating that national security is rock-solid,' he said.
The choice of Hong Kong for Shandong's inaugural public opening underlines the special role of the special administrative region. Arriving shortly after the
28th anniversary of the reunification with the motherland and the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the
national security law here, the five-day charm offensive goes beyond fostering goodwill and bonding with local residents and reflects the city's place in the national defence strategy and the importance of national security to the city.
The visit comes days before the start of commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the war against Japan. It also followed the
joint combat drill by the Shandong and Liaoning in the western Pacific Ocean, in what was described as an exercise to test their far-sea defences and joint operational capabilities.
A series of open tours and cultural exchange activities will be held, with at least 10,000 people given the opportunity to board the vessels. The tickets for ship visits were snapped up
within a minute earlier this week, leaving many enthusiasts crowding along the harbour to catch a glimpse of the incoming fleet. The elation and overall experience can help reinforce the message of safeguarding national security and instil a stronger sense of national identity and pride.
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