70th Anniversary of PLA Navy: China-Malaysia defense, naval ties increasing

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02:50

Among the foreign countries sending ships to take part in the parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the PLA Navy is Malaysia. The South East Asian country and China have deepened economic ties in recent years, as well as enhanced strategic and defense cooperation to far greater levels. This includes developing closer ties between the two countries' navies. Rian Maelzer reports from Kuala Lumpur.

The parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PLA Navy was impressive by any measure. But with several other countries, including Malaysia, taking up the invitation to participate, it was not just about displaying military or technological prowess.

THOMAS BENJAMIN DANIEL INSTITUTE OF STRATEGIC & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES "For China a naval parade such as this will be used to showcase its history, its achievements, what it aims to achieve in the future in terms of assets and capacities, and also to reach out to its partners across the Asia Pacific and the world. Events like this are really useful in terms of good defence diplomacy."

After decades of close collaboration with western militaries, Malaysia has greatly increased defence ties with China in the past four years, including between their navies. China's navy has taken part in major humanitarian and disaster relief exercises in Malaysia, in the first-ever bilateral military exercises and recent trilateral exercises with Thailand.

DR. NGEOW CHOW BING DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE OF CHINA STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA "We see the beginning and even the intensifying cooperation because we basically while non-aligned country, we want to be friends with all. If we can do this with the US, of course, we can do it with China as well."

RIAN MAELZER KUALA LUMPUR "In recent years, Malaysia's armed forces have begun sending personnel to study at military academies in China, and Malaysia has made its first major purchase of Chinese military hardware, namely large patrol vessels known as littoral mission ships."

THOMAS BENJAMIN DANIEL INSTITUTE OF STRATEGIC & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES "It's a testament to the options that China can now offer to the developing countries like Malaysia."

And Tuesday's parade showcased China's naval technology and products.

DR. NGEOW CHOW BING DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE OF CHINA STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA "It basically tells the world that China as a naval power coming of age and I think it is coming after a very impressive naval modernization programme in the past several years, which is truly extraordinary, the way the Chinese built up their naval capabilities."

Malaysia's participation shows that the country will not allow its overlapping unresolved territorial disputes with China to hinder the deepening of defence cooperation. Rian Maelzer, CGTN, Kuala Lumpur.