According to information published by the Myanmar Armed Forces on November 27, 2023, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has dispatched several warships, including the destroyer Zi Bo, the frigate Jing Zhou, and the supply ship Qian Dao Hu, to Yangon, Myanmar, as part of a joint maritime security exercise and a friendship tour.
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Chinese PLA Navy's Type 052DL destroyer Zibo. (Picture source: Myanmar Armed Forces)
The ships reached Thilawa Port in Yangon in the afternoon, where they were greeted by senior PLAN officials, officers, soldiers, representatives from the Chinese Embassy and Military Attaché Office in Myanmar, members of the Myanmar-China Chamber of Commerce, and the China-Myanmar Buddhist Association.
Led by Senior Captain Sun Bo, the fleet, comprising approximately 700 personnel, will participate in various activities during their stay. These include tours of prominent sites in Yangon and sporting events aimed at strengthening the friendly relations between the two nations.
Destroyer Zibo
The destroyer Zibo, designated as 156, is a Type 052DL guided-missile destroyer in the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China. It was launched on 26 June 2017 at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai and was officially commissioned into service on 12 January 2020.
As a Type 052DL destroyer, Zibo shares the basic ship type and layout with the Type 052D guided-missile destroyers, but features enhancements for improved stealth performance.
These improvements include a superstructure with a larger inclination angle and a helicopter hangar shifted from the left side of the hull axis to the center, akin to the Type 054A frigate design. Additionally, the destroyer is equipped with small boat storage compartments on both sides of the hangar.
China-Myanmar
The Myanmar Navy's relationship with China in acquiring military equipment began as part of a broader strategic alignment between the two countries. This alignment was driven by Myanmar's need for modernization of its armed forces and China's willingness to supply military hardware to neighboring countries.
The Navy includes a number of Chinese-made equipment. These include a Type 035B submarine (Ming class), two Type 053HIs (Jianghu-II class), 14 Type 037 corvettes (Houxin class), six Houxin class and eight Hainan class. Chinese shipbuilders include Wuchang Shipyard, Hudong Shipyard and Qiuxin Shipyards.
