Chinese Carrier Shandong Visits Hong Kong Amid Anniversaries

The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong, accompanied by its strike group including the destroyers Yan'an and Zhanjiang and the frigate Yuncheng, arrived in Hong Kong for a five-day port visit coinciding with the 28th anniversary of the city's handover and the fifth anniversary of the national security law. The visit features public tours and cultural exchange activities designed to bolster national pride, enhance military-civilian relations, and promote national defense awareness. All tickets for public tours were quickly claimed, showing significant local interest in the modernized fleet, with the Shandong being China’s first domestically designed and built aircraft carrier. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee described the visit as symbolic and inspiring, underscoring the Shandong's importance as a marker of China’s naval advancement and national security. The event takes place amid efforts to strengthen patriotism in Hong Kong following recent political unrest and increased central government oversight. The formation’s arrival highlights China’s growing military capabilities and provides residents an opportunity to witness developments in national defense modernization.