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Two Chinese naval vessels representing the People’s Liberation Army of China – the guided-missile destroyer Zibo and the comprehensive supply ship Gaoyou Lake – have set sail from Zhejiang Province on China’s east coast for Tonga to attend the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Royal Tonga Navy in early July.
The Zibo ship is expected to take part in a series of planned events, which will include naval formations from Asian, European and Oceanian countries, who will jointly participate in parades, military inspections and military reviews.
In recent years, China-Tonga diplomatic relations have become increasingly close, and China has provided a large amount of financial assistance to Tonga for infrastructure construction, disaster relief and other areas.
But the United States and other countries have expressed concerns about China’s growing influence in the Pacific, including Tonga. The United States may interpret the deployment as a sign of China’s military ambitions in the region after expanding its influence in Tonga.
The participation of Chinese naval vessels in Tonga’s celebrations may be seen as a further strengthening of relations between the two countries, but will also be watched by other countries in the region over China’s growing military power.
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