PLN Hainan Naval Base in utter mess and security very lax
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I was in Hainan Island awhile back. Wanted to go diving and the Hainan Island guide recommended me to go to an island about 45minutes away from Sanya and the only way to the Island was via a PLN facility. I was worried : ) but the guide told me he has connections. I agreed and I was brought to a supposedly high security Naval base.
Firstly, I was amazed that the Security was very lax, I thought I will be stopped being a Foreigner, but the PL Navy MPs let me thru into the base together with some Locals ( Hainanese ) going to the same remote Island. The PLN MPs avoided me totally, I think because of communication problems and they didn't know how to react to having a foreigner around.
On my way to the ferry jetty inside the Naval base, I pass by alot of PLN personnels, who was in sloppy military attires and sailor outfits, very ragged and most in sandals. The ships ( mostly Patrol Boats and riverine boats ) berthed have clothes being dried on clothes-line onboard.
The most surprising part was, I realised It was also a major submarine base. they have huge submarine pens built into hills and some have rusting looking submarines in it. The guide informed me the Subs' pen were built by the Japanese during wartime and is being used by PLN since then.
What I saw at the huge Naval base was utter mess. Rusting boats and subs, dilipated buildings, Ill disciplined, badly attired military personnels and ragged sailors. This was supposed to be a major active Naval base for the PLN for the South China Seas and Sea of Japan sea lanes.
I conclude, China has a long way to go to match the Americans or the Rest of East Asia for a Blue water Navy. They can't fight a war in the current derelict state I saw in Yalong Bay. China Acquiring New Ships is one thing, but maintaining them and keeping discipline, morale high troops is another when they are based a long way from the Chinese mainland -
Have you seen OUR troops? Maybe this doesn't apply to crack units like CDO, NDU or Guards, but I'm sure the Bangladeshi workers were having a field day laughing at us when I went back for ICT recently.
Half of the batallion took part in the walking party during the LIFE run. Worst part is, even though its walking party, half of them looked like they were on the verge of passing out. And they were dressed in all sorts of colours & patterns. What happened to standard SAF PT kit?
Even when dress in number 4, most of the uniforms were faded. Many using old velcro name tags that by right shouldn't even be worn. Ranks all falling off 'cos never sew properly. Boots look like a dog just crapped on it.
I'm not anti-SAF or anything, I'm just saying our own army is quite a laughing stock to if you look behind all the gung ho "Join the army" adverts. Its not just the PLA that's ill disciplined & all.
At least their ppl are more patriotic. They actually queue up in the rain just to watch the flag raising in Tiananmen. If they ever had that here, you think anyone would bother to go? -
how were you attired ? ... was your uniform fresh, your boots kilat ? .... did you run or walk ? ...Originally posted by sgf:Have you seen OUR troops? Maybe this doesn't apply to crack units like CDO, NDU or Guards, but I'm sure the Bangladeshi workers were having a field day laughing at us when I went back for ICT recently.
Half of the batallion took part in the walking party during the LIFE run. Worst part is, even though its walking party, half of them looked like they were on the verge of passing out. And they were dressed in all sorts of colours & patterns. What happened to standard SAF PT kit?
Even when dress in number 4, most of the uniforms were faded. Many using old velcro name tags that by right shouldn't even be worn. Ranks all falling off 'cos never sew properly. Boots look like a dog just crapped on it.
I'm not anti-SAF or anything, I'm just saying our own army is quite a laughing stock to if you look behind all the gung ho "Join the army" adverts. Its not just the PLA that's ill disciplined & all.
At least their ppl are more patriotic. They actually queue up in the rain just to watch the flag raising in Tiananmen. If they ever had that here, you think anyone would bother to go?
(note: this is not anti-you or anything like that ..... ) -
This is a typical reminder of us not to believe blindly into what the mainstream media claims or show to the masses. I have seen PRC military forums boasting to the high heavens how gungho, invincible and super their troops are, this is just like how some SG forums think SAF is invincible.
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We are talking about an active naval base with professional PLA soldiers and PLN sailors. It doesn't leave a very good impression on the Chinese Military capabilities in comparison to the Americans.
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Hainan is not the major naval base for South PLAN fleet.Originally posted by damienthedevil:We are talking about an active naval base with professional PLA soldiers and PLN sailors. It doesn't leave a very good impression on the Chinese Military capabilities in comparison to the Americans. -
What you saw is probably a base for coastal defence- all-gun fast attack craft and coastal submarines of old designs. The South Sea Fleet is at Zhanjiang, just across from Hainan Island on the mainland.
21°12'49.83"N 110°26'7.72"E -
damienthedevil, maybe the SIB will be contacting you soon for a little chat over kopi...
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I prefer tea
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He JID one leh. No need to chat liao.Originally posted by tankee1981:damienthedevil, maybe the SIB will be contacting you soon for a little chat over kopi... -
What you can see the foreign satellites above can also see too
For show nia or perhaps to lower the guard of someone else
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The security at most bases I've been past - even in Tibet - were very serious. PLA sentries don't look like people you can joke around with.
In Tibet I saw a small group of 5 being tekan by an instructor in the middle of nowhere. When one of the trooper "knock it down" he literally FLY towards the ground in a split second with full pack - like a kungfu movement. And the ground was rocky.
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Yes, their dress during non-ops are very funny. I've seen their officers in camo No 4 and cheap black civi leather shoes with white socks.
But this is not the case during ops. -
My uniform was bought in 2005 so very nice & green. Singapore tag, formation badge & arms badge sewn on. Boots not shiny (not attending parade what!) but black. Why would I run when I'm not chionging sua?Originally posted by Fatum:how were you attired ? ... was your uniform fresh, your boots kilat ? .... did you run or walk ? ...
(note: this is not anti-you or anything like that ..... )
All I'm saying is, before you talk about how sloppily dressed PLA soldiers are, just go take a look at some of our own soliders & its not just reservists I'm talking about. -
Seems like an interesting place........Originally posted by damienthedevil:I was in Hainan Island awhile back. Wanted to go diving and the Hainan Island guide recommended me to go to an island about 45minutes away from Sanya and the only way to the Island was via a PLN facility. I was worried : ) but the guide told me he has connections. I agreed and I was brought to a supposedly high security Naval base.
Firstly, I was amazed that the Security was very lax, I thought I will be stopped being a Foreigner, but the PL Navy MPs let me thru into the base together with some Locals ( Hainanese ) going to the same remote Island. The PLN MPs avoided me totally, I think because of communication problems and they didn't know how to react to having a foreigner around.
On my way to the ferry jetty inside the Naval base, I pass by alot of PLN personnels, who was in sloppy military attires and sailor outfits, very ragged and most in sandals. The ships ( mostly Patrol Boats and riverine boats ) berthed have clothes being dried on clothes-line onboard.
The most surprising part was, I realised It was also a major submarine base. they have huge submarine pens built into hills and some have rusting looking submarines in it. The guide informed me the Subs' pen were built by the Japanese during wartime and is being used by PLN since then.
What I saw at the huge Naval base was utter mess. Rusting boats and subs, dilipated buildings, Ill disciplined, badly attired military personnels and ragged sailors. This was supposed to be a major active Naval base for the PLN for the South China Seas and Sea of Japan sea lanes.
I conclude, China has a long way to go to match the Americans or the Rest of East Asia for a Blue water Navy. They can't fight a war in the current derelict state I saw in Yalong Bay. China Acquiring New Ships is one thing, but maintaining them and keeping discipline, morale high troops is another when they are based a long way from the Chinese mainland
Maybe the guards don't recognize you since you are also a chinese(i assumed)? -
u already said Tibet already....the PRC scared that lack of discipline of PLA in Tibet may eventually led to the loss of Tibet indirectly to forces of Free Tibet.....for the tekaning part...hmmm...maybe the 5 soldiers are native Tibetian and the instructor is a Han Chinese who might be an anal-rententive type who derives from tekaning ethic minorities....Originally posted by chino65:The security at most bases I've been past - even in Tibet - were very serious. PLA sentries don't look like people you can joke around with.
In Tibet I saw a small group of 5 being tekan by an instructor in the middle of nowhere. When one of the trooper "knock it down" he literally FLY towards the ground in a split second with full pack - like a kungfu movement. And the ground was rocky.
...
Yes, their dress during non-ops are very funny. I've seen their officers in camo No 4 and cheap black civi leather shoes with white socks.
But this is not the case during ops.
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BTW I can't dive and I was going diving to the remote Island, I wonder why : )
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Its unlikely the PLA troops stationed there to guard Tibet are made up of ethnic Tibetans. Due to the fact that when the PLA is required to supress any civil unrest in Tibet these ethnic Tibetan troops in PLA may not obey orders.Originally posted by kengkia:u already said Tibet already....the PRC scared that lack of discipline of PLA in Tibet may eventually led to the loss of Tibet indirectly to forces of Free Tibet.....for the tekaning part...hmmm...maybe the 5 soldiers are native Tibetian and the instructor is a Han Chinese who might be an anal-rententive type who derives from tekaning ethic minorities.... 
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Hmmm....are you implying something?Originally posted by damienthedevil:BTW I can't dive and I was going diving to the remote Island, I wonder why : ) -
SAF camps pre-9/11 also not that strict what. Very lax also.
Gombak camp used as throughfare somemore.. -
due they were sailor....what do you espect? all sailor like that....and naval base are usually like that too...but try to poke your head into the sub pen...
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We made friends with some PLA troops when their officer gave free medical help for 2 days to one of our group taken ill.Originally posted by tankee1981:Its unlikely the PLA troops stationed there to guard Tibet are made up of ethnic Tibetans. Due to the fact that when the PLA is required to supress any civil unrest in Tibet these ethnic Tibetan troops in PLA may not obey orders.
They were all Han Chinese.
The Tibetans are still considered a rebellion risk. So I am not sure how/if they are employed by the PLA. -
Well maybe the Company will call him directly.Originally posted by LazerLordz:He JID one leh. No need to chat liao. -
Hmmm...whats your day job? You seem to conduct tours into Chinese military camps? Where do i signed up?Originally posted by chino65:The security at most bases I've been past - even in Tibet - were very serious. PLA sentries don't look like people you can joke around with.
In Tibet I saw a small group of 5 being tekan by an instructor in the middle of nowhere. When one of the trooper "knock it down" he literally FLY towards the ground in a split second with full pack - like a kungfu movement. And the ground was rocky.
...
Yes, their dress during non-ops are very funny. I've seen their officers in camo No 4 and cheap black civi leather shoes with white socks.
But this is not the case during ops. -
No lah... Most tour operator in Tibet should be quite OK.Originally posted by tankee1981:Hmmm...whats your day job? You seem to conduct tours into Chinese military camps? Where do i signed up?
We got on very well with the 2 drivers of our 4WD who were both former PLA serving in Tibet. So they approached the camp officers on our behalf.
The point was that the sentries DIDN'T allow us to enter their camp, in contrast to what the TS said about the naval base in Hainan.
They sent their medics and medical supplies - promptly - to the hotel we were staying at for 2 days. And they refused to accept any payment or gifts in return. -
One thing good about the PLA is that they are still indoctrinated in Socialist values where they believe that they have the duty to serve the people.Originally posted by chino65:They sent their medics and medical supplies - promptly - to the hotel we were staying at for 2 days. And they refused to accept any payment or gifts in return.
I believe the PRC civilians respected their PLA alot as seen from these soldiers selfless acts of bravery and courage. Such as using their bodies to block surging waters from a broken dam in a flood and always there when there are any disasters, natural or man-made.