Two Type 054A multi-role frigates and a Type 903A replenishment ship of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) are now docked at Naval Base San Diego -- principal homeport of the United States Pacific Fleet -- for a four day goodwill visit.

The visit by the warships of PLAN Task Group 546 is the third visit by Chinese warships to San Diego in the last three years.

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Task Group 546 consists of the CNS Yancheng (FFG-546); the CNS Daqing (FFG-576) and the replenishment ship Taihu (889). All three warships belong to the PLAN's North Sea Fleet (the strongest of the navy's three fleets) with headquarters at the city of Qingdao in Shandong province.

The crews of the three Chinese ships were welcomed by their opposite numbers from the USS Cape St. George (CG-71), a Ticonderoga-class cruiser deployed to the Pacific Fleet. Sailors from both navies are going to compete in basketball, football and ping pong, tour the vessels and participate in a joint exercise at sea.

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral James Bynum, Commander, Carrier Strike Group 9, welcomed the commanders of Task Group 546, Rear Admiral Huang Xinjian and Rear Admiral Wu Haihua.

"Through each of these we hope to build mutual understanding and patterns of professional interaction and improve cooperation to the benefit of our two navies," said Admiral Bynum.

"It will also lay a solid foundation for maintaining peace and stability of the region and the world as a whole," said Admiral Huang.

Visits between the navies of the two countries have become more routine, said the U.S. Navy.

USS Benfold (DDG-65), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer based in San Diego, made a five-day visit to Qingdao in August. Earlier this year, a PLAN task force of five ships and 1,200 personnel participated in 53-day Rim of The Pacific exercises at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

TagsPeople's Liberation Army Navy, PLAN, U.S. Navy, CNS Yancheng (FFG-546), CNS Daqing (FFG-576), Taihu (889), USS Cape St. George (CG-71), Rear Admiral James Bynum, Rear Admiral Huang Xinjian, Rear Admiral Wu Haihua