An ambitious Chinese naval program according to the Dutch magazine Marineblad dated 1897-1898 no. 4

An item referred to the magazine Mittheilungen a.d. Gebiet des Seewesens reporting that China intended to become a naval power. The Bay of Kiau Chiau would be dredged to a bigger depth and further more was a naval base to be founded. The arsenal at Funchau would be reorganized and enlarged to be able to built warships of any kind.  An enthusiastic program was made consisting of the building within 5 years of 6 large battleships, 12 armoured cruisers, 26 cruisers of the 2^nd and 3^rd class  and several destroyers. In the meantime seemed the building of 4 destroyers with a speed of 32 miles by Messrs. Tele&Co. at Shanghai to be ordered, building costs 330.000 taels and further more was the intention to order the building of 4 armoured cruisers and 2 fast cruisers according to British design although not larger as 8.000 ton.