On 15 June the Chinese naval guided-missile destroyer Zibo and the comprehensive supply ship Gaoyouhuset sail to Tonga from a military port in Zhoushan City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, to celebrate the Tonga Royal Navy’s 50th founding anniversary.
According to the plan, Zibo will attend a series of activities of the 50th founding anniversary of the Tonga Royal Navy in early July. On behalf of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N), it will be present at the maritime fleet review, land parade, welcome reception, military music performance and other activities held by Tonga, together with the navies from some Asian, European and Oceanian countries.
In January 2022 when Tonga was struck by a volcanic eruption, the PLA-N sent ship formations carrying more than 1,400 tons of disaster relief supplies to assist the country. Furthermore, the Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark visited Tonga three times in 2014, 2018 and 2023 respectively, and provided free medical services for over 16,000 local people.
Source: PLA
