Another Chinese Navy Vessel Makes Port Call in Penang
The 86-meter Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) training vessel *PO LANG* is currently on a training voyage across several countries, with Singapore as its next destination.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Pulau Pinang has received another visit from a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) vessel, just weeks after welcoming two ships from the same navy, sparking significant debate within the country.
According to a statement from the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) on social media, the PLA Navy’s training vessel “PO LANG” arrived at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) in George Town from Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The arrival was greeted by an RMN delegation led by Captain Hj Shaiful Fadzli bin Ismail, Assistant Chief of Staff of Operations for the Western Fleet Command. Also present were representatives from the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Penang, along with officials from federal and state government agencies.
The “PO LANG” was welcomed with military honors, including a performance by the KD SULTAN ISMAIL Band.
“PO LANG” is an 86-meter-long training vessel currently on a training voyage across several countries, with its next destination being Singapore.”
(kredit TLDM)
To enhance diplomatic ties between the PLA Navy and the RMN, the flotilla commander and commanding officer of the “PO LANG” will pay a courtesy visit to RMN representatives at the Navy Liaison Office in Penang.
The vessel will also be visited by crew members from RMN’s training ship, KLD TUNAS SAMUDERA, as well as government agencies, fostering knowledge and technology exchange.
A few weeks earlier, two other PLAN vessels, the Qi Jiguang and Jinggang Shan from Task Group 83, made a port call in Penang, receiving a warm reception from local authorities, which drew criticism from certain political quarters.
The two Chinese vessels stayed for three days before departing for Chittagong, Bangladesh.
During that visit, the Speaker of the Penang State Assembly, Law Choo Kiang, hosted the commanders of both ships, while Chinese sailors and cadets visited Chung Ling High School.
The visit of two Chinese warships to Penang last week.Russian warships that stopped in Penang last week (credit: RMN).
Soon after the Chinese vessels’ departure, four Russian Pacific Fleet warships also docked in Penang. These vessels are believed to include the corvettes Gromkiy, Rezkiy, Aldar Tsydenzhapov, and the replenishment tanker “Pechenga”.
The Russian ships’ operational visit included resupply and crew rest, coinciding with the Memorial Ceremony of the 110th Anniversary of the Death of the Russian Sailor, held at two locations around Penang.
The corvettes—*RFS Gromkiy* (335), *RFS Rezkiy* (343), and *RFS Aldar Tsydenzhapov* (339)—are part of the Steregushchiy-class (Project 20380) warships in the Russian Navy.
Meanwhile, for the first time in 22 years, two German Navy vessels—*FGS Baden-Württemberg* (F222) and *FGS Frankfurt am Main* (A1412)—arrived at Port Klang Cruise Terminal for an operational visit last week.
FGS BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG (F222) (credit RMN)
The German ships are participating in the Indo-Pacific Region Deployment 2024 (IPD 2024) and remained in Malaysia until October 18, accompanied by Rear Admiral Helge Risch, the German Navy’s Director of Human Resources. – DSA