Chinese state media reported that two days after the Boao Forum (April 11, 2018), Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) Xi Jinping reviewed a "spectacular parade" involving 10,000 Naval personnel, China's only operational aircraft carrier, 48 ships and submarines and 76 aircraft. Many vessels were commissioned in the last 6 years. Xi Jinping, dressed in battle camouflage, was aboard the 7,623-ton Changsha, a guided missile destroyer commissioned in 2015, which is a Chinese version of the Aegis loaded with “next-generation” sea-land-air attack capabilities like vertical missile launchpads, plus data link and command systems. It was described as the biggest naval parade in 600 years. He was joined by all members of the CMC and gave a speech urging the Navy to urgently become a world class fleet because "a mighty navy is an important pillar of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation". He said "Today's People's Navy is standing in the east of the world with a new attitude." Xi Jinping's visit coincided with the announcement of live-fire military exercises in the Taiwan Strait amid heightened tensions over increased American support for Taiwan.The Chinese destroyers in the Hainan parade were headed to the Taiwan Straits to conduct a live-fire exercise on April 18.

The PLA also announced a live-fire exercise will be conducted in the Taiwan Strait from 8am to midnight on April 18, 2018, in a zone 20km from the coast of Quanzhou in Fujian Province, and 40km from the Taiwan-controlled island of Kinmen.