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| China puts naval might on display | China puts naval might on display |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| China is staging a military parade to celebrate its navy's 60th anniversary - and show the world its latest warships. | China is staging a military parade to celebrate its navy's 60th anniversary - and show the world its latest warships. |
| At least one of the country's nuclear-powered submarines is on display at the naval parade, being held in the port city of Qingdao. | |
| Twenty-one foreign naval vessels from 14 countries are also taking part, including the US, France and Russia. | Twenty-one foreign naval vessels from 14 countries are also taking part, including the US, France and Russia. |
| Military analysts say the event will allow the rest of the world to see how China has developed its naval forces. | Military analysts say the event will allow the rest of the world to see how China has developed its naval forces. |
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| China shows naval power at parade | |
| Chinese sailors laid out a red carpet in front of the Chinese destroyer Shijiazhuang that took the country's president, Hu Jintao, out to sea for the parade. | Chinese sailors laid out a red carpet in front of the Chinese destroyer Shijiazhuang that took the country's president, Hu Jintao, out to sea for the parade. |
| "Both now and in the future, no matter to what extent we develop, China will never seek hegemony," state media quoted him as saying. | "Both now and in the future, no matter to what extent we develop, China will never seek hegemony," state media quoted him as saying. |
| A total of 25 ships and 31 aircraft from the People's Liberation Army Navy were involved in the event. | A total of 25 ships and 31 aircraft from the People's Liberation Army Navy were involved in the event. |
| Joining President Hu on the destroyer were military officials from nearly 30 countries - many of whom had the chance to tour a Chinese submarine, a destroyer and a hospital ship. | Joining President Hu on the destroyer were military officials from nearly 30 countries - many of whom had the chance to tour a Chinese submarine, a destroyer and a hospital ship. |
| Flag Lieutenant Ollie Hucker, of Britain's Royal Navy, said he was impressed with what he had seen. | Flag Lieutenant Ollie Hucker, of Britain's Royal Navy, said he was impressed with what he had seen. |
| "In some ways we are jealous of their capabilities," he said, adding that it was clear that China wanted to become a major naval power. | "In some ways we are jealous of their capabilities," he said, adding that it was clear that China wanted to become a major naval power. |
| "The global high seas are somewhere they need to make sure they can protect. The sea is where most of the trade routes are," he said. | "The global high seas are somewhere they need to make sure they can protect. The sea is where most of the trade routes are," he said. |
| Military-to-military relations | Military-to-military relations |
| Ordinary people also attended the parade, despite the biting wind in Qingdao. | Ordinary people also attended the parade, despite the biting wind in Qingdao. |
| This is the first time the country has put on such a big parade so I really wanted to come and see it Shi Huijuan | This is the first time the country has put on such a big parade so I really wanted to come and see it Shi Huijuan |
| Carrying binoculars, they lined the city's waterfront from early in the morning to get a glimpse of the parade, most of which took place at sea out of view. | Carrying binoculars, they lined the city's waterfront from early in the morning to get a glimpse of the parade, most of which took place at sea out of view. |
| Some said they were proud to see that China now had advanced warships to match the country's growing global importance. | Some said they were proud to see that China now had advanced warships to match the country's growing global importance. |
| Shi Huijuan came from Shanghai to see the parade. "This is the first time the country has put on such a big parade so I really wanted to come and see it," she said. | Shi Huijuan came from Shanghai to see the parade. "This is the first time the country has put on such a big parade so I really wanted to come and see it," she said. |
| China appears to have become more assertive in the waters off its coastline over recent years. | China appears to have become more assertive in the waters off its coastline over recent years. |
| Earlier this year, five Chinese vessels were involved in a stand-off with a survey ship from the US navy off China's Hainan Island. | Earlier this year, five Chinese vessels were involved in a stand-off with a survey ship from the US navy off China's Hainan Island. |
| But the diplomatic row that followed did not stop the US from sending two ships to take part in the Qingdao parade. | But the diplomatic row that followed did not stop the US from sending two ships to take part in the Qingdao parade. |
| "Our goal has always been to maintain and develop military-to-military relations," said a US Embassy spokesman in Beijing. | "Our goal has always been to maintain and develop military-to-military relations," said a US Embassy spokesman in Beijing. |