PLA Navy opens its first intl social media accounts

The People's Liberation Army Navy launched its official accounts on social media platforms X, formerly known as Twitter, and You-Tube on Monday, in what appears to be a charm offensive targeting global internet users.

In its first post on X, the PLA Navy, which goes under the name ChinaNavy, wrote, "I am Chinese Navy, venturing into the deep blue sea. Welcome to follow us."

A poster was posted below the sentences, showing a sailor holding his rifle and another watching a pigeon. It also carries a brief sentence, written in Chinese and English, "I am @China Navy".

This is the first time that a Chinese military service has opened social media accounts on international platforms. Before the Navy, only the PLA News Media Center had an X account, which was opened in August 2016.

In its second post, the Navy left a longer post and a video clip.

"I am Chinese Navy. From escort missions in the Gulf of Aden to overseas rescue operations, from oceangoing medical services to humanitarian evacuation, we sail across seas and oceans with responsibility and hope," the post reads, calling the Navy "a guardian to defend sovereignty and every inch of territory" and "a partner to build a maritime community with a shared future".

In the two-minute English-speaking video, a male narrator said, "We are committed to providing public products for maritime security, when piracy threatens the shipping routes and when people long for their safe return from afar."

The statement is accompanied by footage of Chinese warships patrolling in the Gulf of Aden and Chinese sailors helping foreign evacuees board Chinese vessels.

"The Chinese Navy always arrives in time," the narrator added with footage showing foreign nationals expressing gratitude toward the PLA Navy.

The video also displays the Navy's training scenes, its international exchanges as well as touching moments between sailors, marines and foreign nationals. It ends by showing smiling faces of Navy personnel.

Previously, the Navy had made English-speaking videos and published them on X, YouTube and other overseas platforms run by Chinese media organizations.

Song Zhongping, a military affairs commentator and retired PLA officer, said that the Chinese armed forces, especially the Navy, used to do good things without publicizing.

"Actually, you need to tell others what you have done and what you want to do. The launch of (the Navy's) accounts on international social media platforms has shown the Chinese Navy's transparency, openness and sense of mission and responsibility. Through the video, viewers can see the Navy's efforts to safeguard peace and stability in the region," he said.

The accounts will also help to clear speculation and sensationalization about "China's military threat", the observer added.

Song suggested that other services in the PLA should open their accounts on overseas internet platforms to enable people outside China to better understand the Chinese military and know about its endeavors to protect world peace and international order.