Chinese Guided Missile Destroyer Shenzhen with about 350 crew members onboard, on a goodwill mission to Japan, berthed at Tokyo’s Harumi Pier on 28 November. The ship on four days visit will be opened to the public.The Chinese ship was received by Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF)’s frigate “Thunder” with navy band playing “Anchors Aweigh,” the U.S. Navy theme song, while Chinese well-wishers bused in by the embassy waved Chinese flags and performed a lion dance.
The visit assumes significance as this is the first-ever visit to Japan by a PLA navy warship since World War II. During the visit the Chinese naval officials are expected to meet with Japanese officials from the defense ministry and SDF. The Chinese crew members will go around central Tokyo for sightseeing and shopping, and will conduct a variety of exchanges, including a soccer match, with their Japanese counterparts. The two sides will visit each other’s warships, and plan to offer a joint bands performance for the civilians. The ship will also dock at the Japanese naval headquarters in Yokosuka.
The port call by the guided missile destroyer Shenzhen was part of an exchange that will bring a Japanese warship on a visit to China at a later date.
Some photographs covering the visit:
Image Source:people
To view a video clip covering the Chinese ships visit click here.
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[...] Chinese Guided Missile Destroyer “Shenzhen” with about 350 crew members onboard, visited Japan on November 28, [...]