Type 680 training ship

{{Infobox ship begin

| infobox caption = Qi Jiguang

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{{Infobox ship image

| Ship image =File:PLAN Qi Ji Guang 2019-14.jpg

| Ship caption = Qi Jiguang in Brunei, 2019

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{{Infobox ship career

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| Ship country = China

| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|China|naval}}

| Ship name = *Qi Jiguang

(戚继光舰)

| Ship namesake = Qi Jiguang

| Ship ordered =

| Ship builder = Liaonan Shipyard, Dalian

| Ship laid down =

| Ship launched =

| Ship sponsor =

| Ship christened =

| Ship completed = November 2016

| Ship acquired =

| Ship commissioned = 21 February 2017

| Ship decommissioned =

| Ship in service = 2017-Present

| Ship out of service =

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| Ship refit =

| Ship struck =

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| Ship homeport = Dalian, Liaoning

| Ship identification = Pennant number: AX-83

| Ship motto =

| Ship nickname = NATO reporting name Dadu

| Ship honors =

| Ship fate =

| Ship status = Active

| Ship notes =

}}

{{Infobox ship characteristics

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| Header caption =

| Ship type = Training ship

| Ship displacement = 9000 t

| Ship length = {{Convert|163|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| Ship beam = {{Convert|22|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| Ship draft =

| Ship depth =

| Ship hold depth =

| Ship propulsion = 2 SEMT-Pielstick diesels, 2 shafts, 7,200 bhp

| Ship speed = 22 kn

| Ship range = 10,000 nmi

| Ship boats = 2 x multi-purpose boats

2 x life boats

| Ship capacity =

| Ship troops =

| Ship complement = *Crew: 450
Instructors: 50
Cadets: 400

| Ship armament = 1 x 76 mm single H/PJ-26

2 x 30 mm H/PJ-17

| Ship aircraft = 1 Changhe Z-8

| Ship armor =

| Ship notes =

}}

The Type 680 training ship with NATO reporting name Dadu,{{cite web| url=https://www.andrewerickson.com/2018/07/onis-new-2018-china-recognition-identification-guide-shows-3-different-types-of-maritime-militia-vessels/ | title=PLANS recognition guide 2018| date=July 16, 2018}}{{cite web| url=https://www.oni.navy.mil/Portals/12/Intel%20agencies/China_Media/2020_China_Recce_Poster_UNCLAS.jpg?ver=2020-02-19-081430-327 | title=PLANS recognition guide 2019| date=February 19, 2020}}{{cite web| url=https://www.andrewerickson.com/2020/02/office-of-naval-intelligence-just-published-latest-china-russia-maritime-ship-recognition-guides/ | title=PLANS recognition guide 2020| date=February 19, 2020}} otherwise known as Qi Jiguang is a training ship of the People's Liberation Army Navy. It joined the PLA Navy on 21 February 2017.{{Cite news|date=17 November 2019|title=680 type AX Qi Jiguang training ship|work=Global Security|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/ax-qi-jiguang.htm|access-date=29 July 2020}}

Construction and career

Qi Jiguang engaged in a number of training voyages around the Indo-Pacific Region in 2019, notably visiting Wellington in New Zealand between 22 and 26 October. Rear Admiral Yu Wenbing invited various New Zealanders to a courtesy reception scheduled for 29 October 2019. Victoria University of Wellington staff discussed whether it was appropriate to attend the reception; in the event, Assistant Vice-Chancellor Rebecca Needham, a former director of the VUW Confucius Institute, attended the event, along with several staff members of the university's Confucius Institute attended.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/117990295/victoria-university-staff-invited-onto-chinese-naval-ship-during-unannounced-nz-visit|title = Victoria University staff invited onto Chinese naval ship during unannounced NZ visit|date = 18 January 2020}} The New Zealand Defence Force said the visit had been arranged through normal diplomatic channels.

On September 26 2023 Qi Jiguang had a three day goodwill visit to Papua New Guinea.{{Cite web |title=Chinese naval training ship Qi Jiguang visits Papua New Guinea - China Military |url=http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/CHINA_209163/TopStories_209189/16254965.html |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=eng.chinamil.com.cn}}

= 2024 stopover in Penang =

In October 2024, Qi Jiguang and the amphibious vessel Jinggang Shan docked at Swettenham Pier in George Town, the capital city of the Malaysian state of Penang. During the stopover, the crew paid a courtesy call on the speaker of the Penang legislature Law Choo Kiang and toured the Penang State Assembly Building.{{Cite news |last=Trisha |first=N. |date=8 Oct 2024 |title=A warm welcome for the Chinese Navy in Penang |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/10/08/a-warm-welcome-for-the-chinese-navy-in-penang |access-date=12 Oct 2024 |work=The Star}}{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=10 Oct 2024 |title=Education minister dismisses rumours of Chinese navy at Penang school, explains cultural exchange with university students |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/10/10/education-minister-dismisses-rumours-of-chinese-navy-at-penang-school-explains-cultural-exchange-with-university-students/153179 |access-date=12 Oct 2024 |work=Malay Mail}} Some of the crew also visited the Chung Ling Private High School, where they received a "friendly" reception to mark the 50th anniversary of China's diplomatic ties with Malaysia. After the visit, the two ships proceeded to Chittagong, Bangladesh.

The stopover led to criticism from Malaysia's right-wing Islamist opposition, led by the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), which accused the Anwar Ibrahim administration of compromising Malaysia's national sovereignty.{{Cite news |last=Mustaffa |first=Harith |date=11 Oct 2024 |title=Malaysia opposition MPs’ hackles raised over Chinese Navy’s port call in Penang |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysia-opposition-mps-hackles-raised-over-chinese-navy-s-port-call-in-penang |access-date=12 Oct 2024 |work=The Straits Times}} The school lodged a police report against malicious social media content, while Penang state executive councillor Wong Hon Wai clarified that the crew who visited the school were tertiary students and not navy personnel.{{Cite news |last=Dermawan |first=Audrey |date=9 Oct 2024 |title=Chinese navy ships were on goodwill visit, says Penang exco |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/10/1117114/chinese-navy-ships-were-goodwill-visit-says-penang-exco |access-date=12 Oct 2024 |work=New Straits Times}} Some analysts have suggested that PAS intended to exploit the stopover to stir racial tensions and intimidate the country's Chinese minority by insinuating that China was collaborating with the Chinese community in Penang, the only Malaysian state continuously governed by ethnic Chinese since independence.