Chinese Navy task group heads for deployment’s 19th country visit

A Chinese Navy three-ship task group has concluded a three-day visit to Brunei Darussalam and is currently en route to Cambodia.

Composed of Type 052C destroyer Changchun, Type 054A frigate Jingzhou and Type 903 replenishment ship Chaohu, the task group started its deployment on April 23 and has visited 18 countries so far.

The deployment has seen the ships travel up to the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea and conduct passing exercises with the regional navies.

After they concluded their visit to Brunei on September 27, the three ships are en route to Cambodia where they will be berthing at the Sihanouk Ville Autonomous Port. Cambodia will be the 19th country the task group has visited on their deployment.

The Chinese fleet is commanded by Rear Admiral Shen Hao, Commander-In-Chief of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Task Group 150 and the Deputy Commander of Eastern Theater Command of the PLA Navy, People’s Republic of China.