Sino-US relations have been the focus of global attention since the establishment of diplomatic relations. After the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1979, the two sides began to slowly contact in various fields, including military exchanges. On November 5, 1986, three warships of the U.S. Navy arrived at Qingdao Port. This was the first time that the U.S. Navy visited a port in mainland China since 1949. The fleet includes the guided missile cruiser USS Reeves, the destroyer USS Oldendorf and the guided missile frigate USS Lentyre, carrying about 800 officers and men in total, and is led by Admiral Lyons, commander of the Pacific Fleet. This visit was originally intended to enhance the understanding between the navies of the two countries and promote the development of relations, but something went wrong at the beginning. The U.S. side didn't fly the flag according to the rules, which led the Chinese side to directly withdraw the honor guard.
At that time, Sino-US relations were in a stage of gradual improvement. Nixon's visit to China in 1972 opened the door. After the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1979, the two countries interacted in trade, science and technology and military matters. However, the military field is still relatively sensitive. The U.S. Navy is strong and the China Navy is still developing at that time. In 1980, Liu Huaqing led a delegation to the United States as deputy commander of the Navy and visited the USS Kitty Hawk. However, the United States restricted his access to equipment and could only observe it from a distance. This incident left a deep impression on Liu Huaqing and inspired the determination of the China Navy to accelerate independent development. In 1986, the U.S. Navy finally visited. The Chinese side was well prepared. The port had arranged an honor guard and a military band, and planned to receive it well.
Liu Huaqiang was born in Hubei, China in 1916, participated in the revolution in his early years, experienced the Long March, the War of Resistance to Japan and the War of Liberation. In 1955 he was awarded the rank of Major General, in 1988 he was promoted to General. He served several times in the Navy, and for the first time in 1954 as Deputy Commander of the Navy, responsible for the updating and training of ships.
In the 1960s he moved to defense technology, advancing missile and ship technology. In 1982 he returned to the Navy as a commander, leading the refinement, emphasizing the construction of ocean capabilities. He paid special attention to the aircraft carrier, believing that it was the key to the modernization of the Navy. When he visited the United States in 1980, he saw the advanced equipment of the U.S. aircraft carrier, and decided that China must have its own aircraft carrier. After retirement, he continued to pay attention to the development of the Navy until his death on January 14, 2011, at age 95.
Back to the events of 1986, when the U.S. fleet approached Qingdao port, the Chinese side observed that the three main vessels had only the U.S. flag hanging on the main vessel, not the signal flag and the Chinese flag. This violated the international naval rituals. In the naval rituals, the naval vessels visited the port had to hang the flag, meaning to pull a string of signals from the head to the tail of the vessel, at the top of each hanging the host national flag and the national flag. This was the custom passed from the Great Sea era, originally to communicate at sea, to avoid conflict, and later became a diplomatic ceremony, representing respect for the host country.
After the Chinese discovery, Liu Huaqing, as the commander of the navy, directly ordered the withdrawal of the honor guard and all welcoming facilities. The U.S. side explained that it would take two hours to fly the flag, and suggested docking for the ceremony first, and then hanging the flag. However, China refused, insisting that it must be filled with flags before it can continue. The U.S. fleet had to stay outside the port, and officers and men went to the mast to hang flags, including the Chinese flag and signal flag. After hanging up, the Chinese side rearranged it and the ceremony went on normally. The two sides fired a 21-gun salute, and the officers shook hands. The visit lasted until November 11th, when American officers and men went ashore to visit Qingdao scenic spots, such as Zhanqiao and Badaguan, and brought a band to play at the dock.
Why is this such a big noise? Because hanging the flag is not a trivial matter, it involves national dignity and diplomatic equality. The failure of the United States to fly the flag is regarded as disrespectful, especially when the naval strength of the two countries is unequal, which is more like a temptation. China's move to withdraw the honor guard is actually to uphold the rules and tell the other side that it must abide by international practices. This is not personal, but a response to the entire incident. As the commander of the US side, Lyons later mentioned during his visit that this visit was helpful to the strategic interests of the two countries, but the initial move did lead to a brief embarrassment. After the incident, the exchanges between the two navies did not interrupt, but continued to develop. For example, the Chinese navy paid a return visit to Hawaii in 1989.
From a broader perspective, this incident reflects the delicate balance in Sino-US military relations. At that time, the Chinese navy's equipment was backward, mainly relying on Type 051 destroyers and small ships, and its ocean-going capabilities were limited. The U.S. Navy has an aircraft carrier fleet, deployed globally. After the incident, the Chinese navy accelerated its modernization. Liu Huaqing promoted the aircraft carrier project and organized scientific research teams to overcome difficult problems. Despite the technological blockade, China has gradually mastered core technologies by self-reliance. On September 25, 2012, the first aircraft carrier Liaoning was commissioned, with a displacement of about 60,000 tons. It can carry J-15 carrier-based aircraft and perform offshore missions.
After the Liaoning ship was listed, the Chinese Navy did not stop. On December 17, 2019, the second aircraft carrier Shandong was in service, which is China's first domestic aircraft carrier, with larger drainage volume, more optimized design, and can carry more aircraft. On June 17, 2022, the third aircraft carrier Fukushima was launched, equipped with an electromagnetic launch system, which is the world's advanced level, can make the aircraft carrier take off faster and improve efficiency. The Chinese Navy also built Type 055 large destroyer, drainage volume of 1.3 million tons, equipped with phase-control radar and vertical launch system, combined combat capability is strong. Now the Chinese Navy has three aircraft carrier, forming a preliminary team, also including nuclear submarines and
And these developments did not start at once, but from the 1980s. Liu Xiaobo's vision played a key role, he stressed that "the navy is going to the ocean, the aircraft carrier is at the core". After the event, the Chinese Navy focused more on independent innovation and avoided reliance on external technology. For example, the upgrading of the aircraft carrier from the J-15 to the J-35, the radar from mechanical scanning to the source phase control, reflected the technological accumulation. Internationally, the U.S. Navy is still the dominant, but the growth of the Chinese Navy has changed the Asia-Pacific landscape, promoting regional stability.
In the subsequent development, the Chinese Navy continued to expand its influence. In 2023, the Fujian ship naval trial was successful and the electromagnetic launcher technology was leading. The Navy also participated in international escorting, such as the Aden Bay anti-piracy operation, escorting thousands of merchant ships. This not only boosted strength, but also demonstrated responsibility. Compared to 1986, now the Sino-U.S. Navy dialogue more, avoiding misjudgment through hotlines and agreements.
Therefore, the visit, despite the turmoil, promoted the relationship. The US side later adhered to the rules, and the visit ended smoothly. The Chinese navy took this opportunity to examine itself inadequately and accelerate the pursuit. Now it seems that the retreat was not an impulse, but the bottom line of principle.