A trio of Chinese Navy vessels that are making an around-the-world trip will . This visit comes as tensions are within China’s man-made islands claim on disputed territorial waters.

The three ships involved with the visit include the named Jinan. The 052C Luyang II class is roughly analogous to an Australian , not necessarily in raw capability but in general configuration. The Hobart Class is roughly analogous to a slightly smaller and lighter armed U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke Class destroyer, with a focus on anti-air warfare, along with anti-ship, anti-submarine and land attack capabilities.

The other surface combatant in the group is the Type 054A Jiangkai II class guided missile frigate named Yiyang. This ship is an advanced multi-role frigate with medium-range air defense as well as anti-surface, anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

The final ship in the flotilla that will be visiting Mayport is a Type 903 Fuchi class oiler named Qiandao Hu. This is a large fleet support ship displacing 20,000 tons.

that officials have told them these Chinese ships’ crews will take part in sporting events, ship tours and other social events harboring in Florida. The USS Iwo Jima will be the host ship for the Chinese Navy’s stay.

Chinese naval ships have visited U.S. ports before, they have even participated in the Yet this participation in RIMPAC was before the relationship between the two countries began to chill over the last two years.

Exercise Rim Of The Pacific, commonly known as RIMPAC, is the largest multinational naval training…

The reason why these Chinese ships are even operating in the Atlantic is the result of an intriguing symbol of China’s growing naval might and world-wide military reach. Sending a flotilla of warships around the globe is a complex and expensive affair. An exercise that is showcase of military capability and influence as much it is one of diplomacy and good will.

China’s Navy has also shown an unprecedented sign of good will and hospitality as of late, . Strangely enough this first ever event was largely left uncovered by America’s media, although the pictures are readily available on China’s defense ministry’s website.

All this comes after China’s President Xi Jinping visited the White House last month, during which another sign of improved military-to-military relations was

With President Xi Jinping in the U.S. for a state dinner, hardcore diplomacy is underway trying to…

With all this in mind, the timing of these high-profile visits, especially the arrival of Chinese ships at Florida’s major naval port, literally a world away from the Chinese mainland, is interesting as they are happening just as the U.S. is openly planning on directly challenging China’s claims around their man-made islands in South China Sea.

It seems as if that issue is being actively compartmentalized from the military-to-military ties between the two countries. As such it will be interesting to see if the Obama Administration orders the freedom of navigation drill off China’s islands in the South China Sea, despite what seems to be increasingly positive interactions and cooperation among U.S. and Chinese militaries.

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