Type 680 training ship

*Qi Jiguang*
	Qi Jiguang in Brunei, 2019
History
China
Name	Qi Jiguang ; (戚继光舰);
Namesake	Qi Jiguang
Builder	Liaonan Shipyard, Dalian
Completed	November 2016
Commissioned	21 February 2017
In service	2017-Present
Homeport	Dalian, Liaoning
Identification	Pennant number: AX-83
Nickname(s)	NATO reporting name Dadu
Status	Active
General characteristics
Type	Training ship
Displacement	9000 t
Length	163 m (535 ft)
Beam	22 m (72 ft)
Propulsion	2 SEMT-Pielstick diesels, 2 shafts, 7,200 bhp
Speed	22 kn
Range	10,000 nmi
Boats & landing ; craft carried	2 x multi-purpose boats 2 x life boats
Complement	Crew: 450; Instructors: 50; Cadets: 400
Armament	1 x 76 mm single H/PJ-26 2 x 30 mm H/PJ-17
Aircraft carried	1 Changhe Z-8

The Type 680 training ship with NATO reporting name Dadu,^[1]^[2]^[3] otherwise known as Qi Jiguang is a training ship of the People's Liberation Army Navy.^[1]^[2]^[3] It joined the PLA Navy on 21 February 2017.^[4]

Construction and career

The type 680 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.^[5] The New Zealand Defence Force said the visit had been arranged through normal diplomatic channels.