China’s Navy marks its 65th birthday on April 23rd. The 14th Western Pacific Naval Symposium is underway in the eastern Chinese port city of Qingdao.Naval leaders and representatives from 24 countries are attending the two-day event. A multinational joint maritime naval exercise is also expected to take place on April 24th, to mark the 65th anniversary of the founding of the PLA Navy. The exercise is aimed at improving coordination on emergency rescue and response missions.
April 23, 1949: Founding day of the PLA Navy
On April 23, 1949, the leading organ of the navy of the East China Military Area Command was set up at the Baima (white horse) Town, Gaogang District, Taizhou City of Jiangsu Province.
In March 1989, the Central Military Commission ratified the April 23, 1949 to be the founding day of the PLA Navy.
* Time: From April 22 to 23
* Place: In eastern Chinese city of Qingdao
WPNS History:
* Established in 1987 as proposed by US and its allies
* A cooperation forum for the navies of Western Pacific countries
* Goals: To promote pragmatic cooperation between the navies and jointly safeguard regional maritime security
* Membership:
* 21 member countries: Australia, Brunei, Cambodia,Canada, Chile, China, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia,Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, United States and Vietnam.
* 3 observers: Bangladesh, India and Mexico
* Time: From April 23 to 24
* Place: In Qingdao
* Purpose: To commemorate the 65th founding anniversary of the PLA navy, not under the framework of the WPNS
* 8 Participants: China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Malaysia and Brunei
* Japan was not invited to the exercise because of the wrong actions
Chinese frigate "Yantai"
Pakistani missile destroyer Shamsheer
Indian Navy frigate
Frigate from the Bangladesh Navy
Frigate of the Malaysian Navy
Frigate of the Singaporean naval ship
Bruneian naval ship
Visiting vessel from Indonesia
