BEIJING, Nov 28 (Reuters) – Three Chinese navy ships have arrived in Myanmar on a goodwill visit as part of renewed Chinese defence engagement amid Chinese concern about a surge of fighting between Myanmar junta forces and insurgents near the Chinese border.
The guided-missile destroyer Zibo and the guided-missile frigate Jingzhou were escorted by a Myanmar frigate to docks in Myanmar’s main city of Yangon on Monday, China’s People’s Liberation Navy (PLAN) said in a statement.
The 700-strong force, on a four-day visit, is being led by Senior Captain Sun Bo and includes a Chinese resupply ship, the Qiandaohu, the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported.
The Chinese task force would “conduct naval security exercises” with Myanmar, it reported.
The Chinese vessels are part of the Chinese navy’s 44th fleet that has conducted anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia since 2008. The 44th fleet was sighted in the United Arab Emirates this month.
China’s military has stepped up defence engagement in Southeast Asia this year after the lifting of zero-COVID restrictions in late 2022.
This month, the Chinese and Vietnamese navies conducted their 35th joint…
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