A Taiwan compatriot poses for a photo with a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy officer while visiting a warship in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, April 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Jie)
QINGDAO, April 23 (Xinhua) — A group of Taiwan compatriots on Thursday attended an open-day event celebrating the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in Qingdao, a city in east China’s Shandong Province.
They boarded active-duty warships open to the public and learned about the ships’ weapons and equipment, as well as the work and daily life of the officers and crew.
Opening active-duty vessels to the public is a cultural tradition shared by navies around the world. In recent years, the PLA Navy has held multiple such open-day events on occasions including its founding anniversary and National Day.
For Lin Yi-chen, a young woman from Taiwan, stepping onto a warship for the first time was a new experience, one that, she said, offered a different perspective. She hoped to share it with more young people in Taiwan.
Lu Li Shih, a social media influencer, said he was delighted to board a PLA Navy warship for the first time, adding that people across the Strait are one family.
The Taiwan compatriots then visited the naval skills demonstration area on the pier, where they observed flag signalling, diving gear preparation, and rope knot-tying demonstrations.
During an interactive session, at the suggestion of the Taiwan compatriots, naval signalers sent flag signals reading “People on both sides of the Strait are one family” and “Harmony in a family brings prosperity,” prompting warm cheers and applause from the crowd.
Xu Ming, a tourist from Zibo in Shandong, took a photo with the young visitor from Taiwan and said, “Welcome home.”
“We are all one family. I feel the hearts of people across the Strait are drawing closer. I sincerely welcome our Taiwan compatriots to come home often,” Xu said. ■
People board a warship of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, April 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Jie)
Taiwan compatriots attend an open-day event celebrating the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, April 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Jie)
A Taiwan compatriot visits a warship of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, April 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Jie)
A Taiwan compatriot poses for a photo at a port in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, April 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Jie)
