On the afternoon of October 10, 2025, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director-General of the Information Office of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answered recent media queries concerning the military.

Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), answers recent media queries concerning the military on the afternoon of October 10, 2025. (mod.gov.cn)

(The following English text is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)

Jiang Bin: I have three pieces of news to announce at the top.

Firstly, the 48th Escort Task Group (ETG) comprising of PLANS Tangshan, a guided-missile destroyer, PLANS Daqing, a guided-missile frigate, and PLANS Taihu, a comprehensive supply ship, will set sail in mid-October for the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia to replace the 47th ETG. The PLAN ETGs take concrete actions to build a maritime community with a shared future, and safeguard international sea lanes and regional peace and stability.

Secondly, the 54th CISM World Naval Pentathlon Championship will take place in Wuhan, Hubei Province, from October 17 to 25. The event is hosted by the PLA Naval University of Engineering. More than 100 athletes from countries including South Africa, Brazil, Pakistan, and Russia will participate, while delegations from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other nations will attend as observers. Chinese military academies with maritime specialties, such as the PLA Army Engineering University and the PAP Coast Guard College, will also send teams to the game. Both Chinese and foreign competitors will contest in events including obstacle race, lifesaving swimming, utility swimming, seamanship race, and amphibious cross country.

The World Naval Pentathlon Championship, an official event organized by the International Military Sports Council (CISM), is a major military sports competition that combines service-specific features with physical and technical skills. By hosting this championship, China will further strengthen friendly exchanges with foreign militaries, promote international cooperation in military sports, and advance innovation in military sports training.

Thirdly, China and Saudi Arabia will hold Blue Sword-2025 naval joint training in Saudi Arabia in mid and late October. This training, as the third between the two navies, will help promote exchanges on skills and tactics, and deepen bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Journalist: According tomediareports,PLANS Qi Jiguang and PLANS Yimengshanhadvessel open daysduring a visit toHong Kong, which attracted wide public attention. Could you please share moredetails?

Jiang Bin: On the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the founding of the PRC,PLANS Qi Jiguang and PLANS Yimengshanhada three-day vessel openeventin Hong Kong duringamidshipmen ocean-going training.Approximately 20,000visitorsfrom Hong Kong and Macao boarded the ships. They attendednational flag-raising ceremonies, watched a demonstration of naval flag semaphores and tried their hand at knot-tying techniques. All these activities were organized by crew members for sending sincere National Day greetings to local residents. Visitors also sangOde to the Motherlandtogether with officers and sailors by the bustling Pearl River. Many expressed their sense of security and pride as Chinese people. As the saying goes,"Only when the country is secure can families thrive." The people's military will firmly safeguard Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. The Pearl of the Orient will surely shine even more brilliantly as the nation achieves rejuvenation.

Journalist: According to reports, the first submarine reportedly built in China's Taiwan region, named Hai Kun, has encountered technical difficulties during construction and may not be delivered as scheduled. What's your comment on that?

Jiang Bin: The DPP authorities, disregarding the safety and well-being of the people in Taiwan, are squandering taxpayers' hard-earned money in an attempt to "seek independence by force." Heading further down this perilous path of harming and ruining Taiwan will only push the island into the abyss of disaster. The so-called indigenous submarine, a patchwork built by the "Taiwan independence" armed forces at an exorbitant cost, will be no match for the People's Liberation Army. Such overconfidence is sheer overreach and will ultimately lead to self-destruction.