Chinese Navy joins X and YouTube to reach global audience

The People's Liberation Army Navy launched on Monday its official accounts on social media platforms X, formerly known as Twitter, and YouTube, 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."

An image attached shows a sailor standing to attention with his rifle, and another looking out to sea, as a dove flies over in the foreground. The words "I am @China Navy" are embedded in the image, in both Chinese and English.

This has been the first time for a Chinese military service to open accounts on international social media platforms. Before the Navy, only the PLA News Media Center had run its 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 ocean-going 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 about Chinese warships patrolling in the Golf 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 oversea platforms run by Chinese media organizations.