The Chinese PLA Navy's 989 Task Group completes the comprehensive ocean-going training mission and returns to Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province on December 22, 2025.

By Li Yun and Lyu Zhihao

BEIJING, Dec. 22 -- The Chinese PLA Navy's 989 Task Group successfully completed its comprehensive ocean-going training mission and friendly visits to Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, and returned to its home port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, on December 22, 2025.

The 989 Task Group comprises PLANS amphibious dock landing ship Changbaishan (Hull 989), ocean-going navigation training ship Zheng He (Hull 81), and large comprehensive training vessel Xiangqianjin1 (Hull 88). 

Since setting sail on November 15, 2025, the 989 Task Group has successively passed through five sea areas including China's Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, the South China Sea, the Java Sea and the Western Pacific Ocean. It has visited three countries, namely Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. The voyage lasted for 38 days and covered a total distance of approximately 7,000 nautical miles.

During the visits, 14 foreign officers and military cadets from 8 countries including Brazil and Brunei boarded the Chinese ships and, together with the Chinese cadets, conducted maritime training in mixed groups.

The Chinese PLA Navy's 989 Task Group completes the comprehensive ocean-going training mission and returns to Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province on December 22, 2025.

The Chinese PLA Navy's 989 Task Group completes the comprehensive ocean-going training mission and returns to Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province on December 22, 2025.

The Chinese PLA Navy's 989 Task Group completes the comprehensive ocean-going training mission and returns to Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province on December 22, 2025.