Internal Security Military Diplomacy

Today, Naval Vessel Formation Departs for Hong Kong to Organize Open Visiting and Exchange Activities

今日，海军舰艇编队起航赴香港组织开放参观交流活动

PLA Daily (解放军报) 1 July 2026

Summary

The missile destroyer Nanning and missile frigate Hengyang departed Zhanjiang on July 1 for Hong Kong, where they will conduct open visiting and cultural exchange activities from July 2 to 6, timed to coincide with the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover. This documents the PLA Navy's recurring use of port visits to Hong Kong as a sovereignty demonstration and public diplomacy instrument, a pattern that has continued since the 1997 handover and intensifies around July 1 anniversaries.

Translation

China Military Online, Zhanjiang, July 1 — Reported by Jiang Haitao, correspondents Xiong Ying and Zhang Hongyuan: From July 2 to 6, a naval vessel formation composed of the missile destroyer Nanning and the missile frigate Hengyang will travel to Hong Kong to organize a series of open visiting and cultural exchange activities. On the morning of July 1, the naval vessel formation cast off from a military port in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, and departed for Hong Kong.

On the morning of July 1, the naval vessel formation cast off from a military port in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, and departed for Hong Kong. Photo by Liang Jiepei.

The missile destroyer Nanning casting off and getting underway. Photo by China Military Online correspondent Xiong Ying.

On the morning of July 1, the naval vessel formation cast off from a military port in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, and departed for Hong Kong. Photo by China Military Online correspondent Zhang Hongyuan.

Original Chinese

中国军网湛江7月1日电姜海涛记者熊鹰张洪源报道：7月2日至6日，由导弹驱逐舰南宁舰、导弹护卫舰衡阳舰组成的海军舰艇编队将赴香港组织系列开放参观和文化交流活动。7月1日上午，海军舰艇编队从广东湛江某军港解缆赴港。 7月1日上午，海军舰艇编队从广东湛江某军港解缆赴港。梁杰培摄导弹驱逐舰南宁舰正在解缆起航。中国军网记者熊鹰摄 7月1日上午，海军舰艇编队从广东湛江某军港解缆赴港。中国军网记者张洪源摄