The amphibious assault ship Hainan attached to a landing ship detachment affiliated with the navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command participates in a maritime combat exercise at an undisclosed area in the South China Sea in early 2023. Photo: Screenshot from the Weibo account of the PLA Daily

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's Type 075 amphibious assault ship has made its first foreign stop with a technical stop in Indonesia. A Chinese military expert said on Thursday that the overseas display of such a strategic weapon underscores the PLA Navy's openness, transparency, and confidence while fostering international exchange and cooperation.

A group of PLA Navy vessels consisting of the amphibious assault ship Hainan as well as the guided missile frigates Hengyang and Liuzhou made a technical stop at port of Tanjung Priok in Indonesia for a four-day replenishment starting Tuesday, according to a report published on the PLA Daily on Thursday.

Decorated with national flags of China and Indonesia, the PLA Navy formation arrived at the port of Tanjung Priok around 3 pm on Tuesday, with officers and sailors lining up on the vessels' decks to wave greetings to those welcoming them at the pier, including Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Hou Yanqi, staff from the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia, and representatives from the Indonesian naval base, the PLA Daily reported.

This is the first time the PLA Navy's Type 075 amphibious assault ship has stopped at a foreign country, Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times.

The overseas display of the large amphibious assault ship, which is considered an important strategic weapon, demonstrates the PLA Navy's openness, transparency, and confidence. As the PLA Navy makes strides toward the blue water, more naval assets will embark on foreign visits, serving as envoys of friendly exchanges, highlighting the PLA's image as a strong and cultured force, Zhang said.

During the technical stop, officers and sailors of the ship formation are scheduled to engage in cultural, sports, and social exchanges, according to the PLA Daily.

Zhang said that a technical stop is a temporary stopover for replenishment of supplies like fuel, food, and water during long-distance voyages, a common practice among navies worldwide.

The stop in Indonesia underscores the strong ties and cooperative relations between the two countries and their militaries, Zhang said, noting that the voyage by the PLA Navy formation will enhance the warships' capabilities for far-seas operations.

In March 2023, China Central Television reported that the Hainan had completed a far seas exercise together with a guided missile destroyer, a guided missile frigate and a comprehensive replenishment ship. The 30-day drill saw the group of Chinese warships sail over 9,000 nautical miles in waters including the South China Sea and the Western Pacific.

The Hainan is the PLA Navy's first Type 075 amphibious assault ship. It was launched on September 25, 2019, and commissioned on April 23, 2021. Before the Hainan's first foreign visit in Indonesia, it visited Hong Kong for the first time from November 21 to 25.