In 1986, the U.S. Navy visited China, and many people knew that it was unpleasant because of the flag issue, in fact, this reflects the subtlety of the Sino-U.S. relationship at the time, and also exposed the huge naval power gap between the two countries. Liu Hua Qing was born in Hubei in 1916 to a poor country rural farmer, when childhood day spent tightly, in 1929, joined the children's grouping revolutionary activities. In 1930, the Red Army, the next year turned Communist Youth Party member, in 1935 officially entered the party. During the resistance period, he worked in the Red Four Army and the Eighth Road Army's 129 division political work and military management, participated in the 1937 Shandong Battle and the 1940 Centennial War. When the war was liberated
After the founding of New China, he transferred to the Navy, in 1952 as Deputy Chancellor and Deputy Governor of the Naval School, in 1958 as Deputy Commander of the North Sea Fleet and Commander of the Brigade Base. In 1961, he administered the Seventh Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense, responsible for the development of ships. In 1970 he resumed the work of the Navy, as Deputy Commander. In August 1982, he ascended to the Navy Commander, promoting the modernization of the Navy, such as aircraft carrier research and ship renewal. In September 1988, he was awarded the rank of General, in November 1989 as Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and in March 1998 he retired. In October 1992, he joined the Standing Committee of the Central Political Bureau and particip
On November 5, 1986, U.S. Navy commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, General James Leon, brought three warships to Qingdao to visit the port of Qingdao: the missile destroyer "Reeves", the destroyer "Obrayn" and the supplier "Williqta", with a total of more than 800 people. China arranged Liu Huaqiang's reception, prepared the ceremonial squad and the red carpet, and wiped out the only fully preserved destroyer "Zhongdao".
When the U.S. ship approached, it was not covered with communication flags, including the Chinese flag. According to international naval etiquette, visiting warships must fly flags to show respect when entering Hong Kong. As an old naval power, the United States will not be ignorant of this rule. When the Chinese side asked, the US side said that it would take time to hang the flag, so the ceremony should be held first. Liu Huaqing ordered the withdrawal of the honor guard and carpet, and asked the US to correct it. About an hour later, the US ship raised its flag and the ceremony resumed. During the visit, the US side visited the Jinan, which Lyons said was the best preserved antique ship, and his tone was contemptuous. At that time, Chinese naval ships had small tonnage and backward technology, while American ships had large displacement and advanced equipment, and the gap was obvious.
Although this matter is small, it makes China alert that it cannot give in to etiquette, otherwise other countries will follow suit in the future, and the national bottom line will be gone. At that time, the U.S. Navy was the global hegemon, and its behavior was sometimes arrogant. Not flying the flag this time was seen as testing China's reaction. Liu Huaqing's decision safeguarded dignity and didn't let the US push its luck. After the incident, the exchanges between the Chinese and American navies continued. On March 31, 1989, the Chinese training ship "Zheng He" visited the United States and went to Hawaii on April 8 to demonstrate its ocean-going strength. In the 1990s, Sino-US joint exercises increased. The Chinese Navy took the opportunity to accelerate its development and launched aircraft carrier pre-research in the early 1990s. After 2000, the Liaoning ship was renovated and commissioned in 2012.
The destroyer has been upgraded from Type 051 to Type 055, and the radar missile system is advanced. The Type 071 dock landing ship supports amphibious operations and has strong air and missile defense. The Trailblazer 2 rocket and SC-19 anti-satellite missile can destroy enemy satellite communications, the Dongfeng 17 missile strikes accurately, and the J-20 stealth fighter has a great air superiority. Liu Huaqing retreated and continued to guide national defense until he died in 2011. The Chinese navy now has an advanced fleet of multiple aircraft carriers, far exceeding the level of 1986, and global cooperation maintains peace.
Recall that the Chinese Navy began late in the 1950s to buy ships from the Soviet Union, the 1960s were self-made, but there were many technical bottlenecks. In 1980, Liu Qing visited the United States, seeing the aircraft carrier was not allowed to see far away, realized the gap was large, and promoted independent research and development. In 1986 the events stimulated the naval self-reliance, then increased investment, and the research team expanded. The US side adjusted the manual after that visit to emphasize the flag requirements, avoiding similar embarrassment. The military mutual trust between the two countries gradually built, the 1990s exchanged intelligence, and after 2000 counter-terrorism cooperation. The Navy developed not only hardware, training also followed, long-haul shipping began in Somalia in 2008, normalized.
Liu Huaqing emphasized the strategic transformation of the navy during his lifetime, from yellow water to blue water. After the incident, this concept became firmer. When he was awarded the title in 1988, he was already an admiral, promoting nuclear submarines and missile ships. In the 1990s, China built the Type 052 destroyer with domestically produced gas turbines. After 2000, the Type 093 nuclear submarine entered service and was quiet. The incident reflects the need for equality in exchanges between major powers. At that time, the United States bullied others, and it was disrespectful if it didn't hang the flag. China responded in a timely manner and did not let small matters lead to big disasters. In the follow-up, China's diplomacy has become more confident, and the navy has more escorts for fishing. In the 2010s, islands were built in the South China Sea, and naval patrols were normal.
This also reminds us that the lessons of history can not be forgotten. The North Ocean Fleet was the first in Asia at the end of Qingdao, and the entire army was defeated in the Ahad War. After 1949, the navy was rebuilt, the gap in 1986 was still large, but over 30 years of pursuit. Now the Chinese navy is second in the world, the number of ships is large, and the quality is also great. After the incident, Liu Huaqiang pushed the budget to bend the navy in the military committee, and the aircraft carrier argumentation was launched in the late 1990s.
After the U.S. Navy visited China, the internal report acknowledged China's great potential and avoided underestimation. The two countries' naval hotline was built, collision avoided the signing of an agreement. In 2014, the U.S. Navy joint exercises, search and rescue cooperation. Although the events in 1986 but impact continued, the Chinese side learned from China to adhere to the principle. Navy development benefited the economy, escorting merchant ships safety, along the way at sea and steady silk road. After Liu Wang Qing's death, the state commemorated his contribution, the Navy Museum has his exhibition area.
In the future, the Navy will continue to innovate and safeguard maritime rights and interests. The flag in 1986, now that I think about it, is a starting point to push the Chinese navy to take off.