Vietnam’s Frigate 015-Tran Hung Dao Conducts Port Call in China

The Vietnam People’s Navy frigate 015-Tran Hung Dao arrived at Xinzhou Naval Port in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, on July 20 for a scheduled visit. This mission, led by Senior Captain Nguyen Van Ngan, deputy commander and chief of staff of Naval Region 4, underscores ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation and maritime security between Vietnam and China.

Diplomatic Objectives and Maritime Cooperation

The arrival of the Gepard-class frigate at the Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy serves as a mechanism for building mutual trust. According to the [Vietnam News Agency](https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnamese-navy-ship-pays-friendly-visit-to-china-post292025.vnp), the visit is designed to enhance the professional relationship between the two navies and ensure stability in the South China Sea.

During the visit, the Vietnamese delegation engaged in professional exchanges with their Chinese counterparts, focusing on communication protocols and joint coordination. These port calls are part of a broader framework of high-level military diplomacy intended to prevent miscalculations at sea. The 015-Tran Hung Dao, a modern surface combatant, represents the technological modernization of the Vietnam People’s Navy, capable of anti-submarine, anti-surface, and anti-air warfare.

The Role of Frigate 015-Tran Hung Dao

The 015-Tran Hung Dao is one of four Gepard-class frigates operated by the Vietnam People’s Navy. Built in Russia, these vessels are the primary platforms for Vietnam’s blue-water naval operations.

* Class: Gepard 3.9 (Project 11661E)
* Primary Armament: 76mm main gun, Kh-35 Uran-E anti-ship missiles, and Palma close-in weapon systems.
* Strategic Function: The vessel is frequently deployed for long-range patrols and international naval exercises, reflecting Vietnam’s “Four Nos” defense policy, which emphasizes maintaining independent military capabilities while engaging in cooperative security initiatives.

Regional Context and Defense Diplomacy

Vietnam’s naval diplomacy operates within a complex geopolitical environment. While both nations share a border and significant economic ties, they also maintain competing sovereignty claims in the South China Sea.

According to [official statements from the Chinese Ministry of National Defense](http://eng.mod.gov.cn/), interactions between the two navies are aimed at implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries regarding the maintenance of regional peace. By hosting the Vietnamese crew in Zhanjiang, the Southern Theater Command facilitates a dialogue channel that remains separate from the broader territorial disputes, focusing instead on search-and-rescue operations and maritime law enforcement cooperation.

Future Outlook

The visit concluded with joint communication drills as the frigate departed the port. These exercises are routine in nature, designed to ensure that vessels from both nations can communicate effectively during maritime emergencies. The continued exchange of naval visits indicates a commitment by both Hanoi and Beijing to maintain open lines of communication, despite the underlying tensions regarding regional maritime boundaries. Future cooperation will likely continue to center on non-traditional security challenges, such as counter-piracy and disaster relief, to sustain regional stability.