On the morning of Aug. 15, local time, the 46th Chinese naval escort task force, consisting of the Jiaozuo and Honghu warships, arrived at Alexandria Port in Egypt for a five-day friendly visit.
The 46th Chinese naval escort task force started a five-day friendly visit to Egypt on Thursday.
Guided-missile destroyer Jiaozuo and comprehensive replenishment vessel Honghu of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy’s 46th escort task force arrived in the Port of Alexandria Thursday morning for the visit, the fourth of its kind since 2002.
More than 400 people including Egyptian military officers and civilians, staff of Chinese diplomatic missions and enterprises in Egypt, as well as overseas Chinese welcomed the Chinese naval vessels at the port and held a welcoming ceremony for the Chinese sailors.
After the ceremony, they went aboard to tour the two vessels.
“I feel very proud to see naval vessels from the motherland at the Port of Alexandria. Although I am in Egypt thousands of miles away, I feel that the motherland is right by my side, and I am full of sense of safety working here,” said Li Binghong, an overseas Chinese.
“I also see that our naval ships are advanced and magnificent, and I feel endearing to see many soldiers from my home country. I drank water and ate candies from the motherland, and I feel sweet in my heart,” said Mu Ruiying, another overseas Chinese.
In March, the 46th Chinese naval escort taskforce recently completed the escort task in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia. This was the first escort task after the taskforce set sail from Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province on February 21.
The 46th Chinese naval escort taskforce started to independently conduct escort mission after separating from the 45th escort taskforce on March 4.
On July 10, the guided-missile destroyer Jiaozuo and the comprehensive supply ship Honghu attached to the 46th Chinese naval escort taskforce made a technical stop in Casablanca, Morocco, for a five-day replenishment and rest.
China has been actively seeking to expand its presence in Africa, particularly in terms of trade, investment, and infrastructure development.
As Chinese naval force continues their diplomatic visits across Africa, these latest port visit by the 46th task force is part of a recent effort by the Chinese government to enhance its bilateral relations with African countries.
In April, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) 45th naval escort task force anchored in Maputo, Mozambique, for a five-day goodwill visit. This visit comes on the heels of their recent stop in Tanzania, signaling China’s commitment to fostering relationships with African nations.
Also, in July, a naval fleet from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) made a voyage to Nigeria, marking a rare visit by the Chinese military to Africa’s Atlantic coast. Led by the destroyer Nanning, the fleet arrival highlights China’s ongoing efforts to expand its influence in the region.
Furthermore, the 43rd Chinese naval escort taskforce, a division of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), made its arrival in Cape Town on the morning of July 24th, commencing a three-day goodwill visit. This visit is part of a broader diplomatic initiative, following the completion of its escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia.
The taskforce then embarked on a journey along the West coast of Africa, making several diplomatic stops in countries including the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Gabon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Nevertheless, the US is determined to stop China’s naval expansion drive.