In a show of rising naval prowess and a quiet assertion of presence, China’s first domestically-built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, sailed into Hong Kong’s waters days after the city marked 28 years since its return from British to Chinese rule. With public tours fully booked and warships on display, the carrier’s arrival blends military symbolism with a sharp patriotic note. As the Shandong drops anchor, it brings more than metal—it brings a message, cloaked in steel, floating on waters that have seen empires rise, retreat, and return with a different flag.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
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Shandong, China’s first fully self-built aircraft carrier, arrives in Hong Kong
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Visit follows 28th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return from British to Chinese control
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Carrier carries 24 Shenyang J-10 fighter jets, weighs 70,000 tons when fully loaded
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All 10,000 public visit tickets were booked in advance
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Military visit aligns with Beijing’s rising patriotic messaging
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Hong Kong retains limited autonomy, but military control lies with Beijing
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Shandong recently engaged in military drills near Taiwan and the wider Pacific
In a move that underscores China’s growing military presence and the Communist Party’s efforts to promote national pride, the country’s first fully homegrown aircraft carrier, the Shandong, arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday. The high-profile visit comes just days after the former British colony marked the 28th anniversary of its handover to China.
The Shandong entered the city’s waters in the early hours, escorted by a battle group that included two destroyers and a frigate. The carrier and its accompanying warships are docked in Victoria Harbour and are open for public visits through the weekend. Notably, all 10,000 tickets made available for the public tours were claimed almost immediately, reflecting what appears to be a strong interest — or at least curiosity — among local residents.
Of those tickets, 2,000 were reportedly for the Shandong alone, with the rest allocated to tours aboard one of the destroyers and the frigate, local media said.
The carrier’s visit is widely seen as part of a broader strategy by Beijing to reinforce a patriotic narrative in Hong Kong, especially in the wake of major political unrest. Following the anti-government protests of 2019, Chinese authorities passed a sweeping national security law that has since reshaped the city’s civil and political environment.
While local officials emphasize unity and national pride, critics have described the law as a tool for silencing dissent. Many prominent pro-democracy figures have been jailed, and freedom of speech has been notably curtailed. In this context, the arrival of the Shandong — a powerful symbol of national strength — sends a clear message about where power lies.
“The arrival of the Shandong reflects the great achievements of our nation’s shipbuilding industry and military capabilities,”
a mainland defense analyst told state broadcaster CCTV.
“It is also a chance for the people of Hong Kong to see the glory of the People’s Liberation Army up close.”
The Shandong, named after a coastal province in northern China, is the second aircraft carrier in the country’s fleet, following the Liaoning, which was built from an incomplete Soviet-era hull purchased from Ukraine. Unlike the Liaoning, the Shandong was built entirely in China — a milestone for the country’s naval ambitions.
At 70,000 tons when fully loaded, the vessel can accommodate 24 Shenyang J-10 fighter jets and other aircraft. Though smaller than U.S. Navy carriers, which typically weigh in at over 100,000 tons, the Shandong reflects China’s ambition to build a blue-water navy capable of operating globally.
“The Shandong may not match the size of U.S. carriers, but it is a symbol of our rising naval strength,”
said a retired PLA Navy officer quoted by the South China Morning Post.
“It’s about showing presence, especially in strategic waters.”
The carrier’s arrival in Hong Kong comes on the heels of regional military operations. In April, the Shandong participated in joint training exercises in the seas and airspace east of Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing claims as its territory. The People’s Liberation Army has ramped up such drills in recent years, and tensions across the Taiwan Strait have escalated.
In May, the Shandong and Liaoning drew international attention after they conducted joint exercises in the Pacific Ocean — well beyond the so-called “first island chain,” a boundary used by military strategists to describe the first ring of islands off the Asian continental coast. That maneuver marked a shift in China’s naval posture, showcasing a level of assertiveness rarely seen in past years.
This week’s visit by the Shandong also revives memories of the Liaoning’s port call in Hong Kong back in 2017. The Chinese military has since made substantial strides, with a third carrier — featuring a flat-top flight deck instead of the ski-jump configuration used by the first two — now undergoing sea trials. A fourth carrier is reportedly under construction.
Despite Hong Kong’s unique status as a Special Administrative Region under the “One Country, Two Systems” model, the city holds no authority over its own military or diplomatic affairs. China maintains a garrison of land, sea, and air forces in the city, and all military-related decisions come from Beijing.
“Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy, but when it comes to national defense, the command is clear,”
said a Hong Kong political commentator.
“Events like this are reminders of who holds ultimate control.”
As thousands of residents prepare to board the warships and tour their decks, the visit serves not just as a rare opportunity for civilians to glimpse naval power up close, but also as a firm political message — one that reinforces Beijing’s presence in a city where control is no longer a question, but a certainty.
With regional dynamics shifting and China’s naval ambitions growing, the Shandong’s port call in Hong Kong may well be a sign of things to come.
The arrival of China’s first domestically-built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, in Hong Kong is more than a naval courtesy—it is a calculated expression of national pride and strategic symbolism. As thousands line up to glimpse the vessel, the message is unmistakable: patriotism sails not just through speeches, but through steel and presence. In a city where political shifts have reshaped freedoms, the docking of the Shandong reflects Beijing’s growing imprint—firm, silent, and deeply anchored.
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