During the last days of May, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China participated in a new six-day multilateral naval exercise as part of the celebrations for the 68th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy. In this context, China sent one of its Type 054A frigates from the 46th Escort Task Group, which is now returning to its home port.
During the activities, the frigate known as Xuchang (FFG536) coordinated with several other participating countries and conducted training exercises such as search and rescue, communications, and anti-piracy operations, according to the Navy’s press release. A total of 14 ships from four countries participated, including Brazil, Cameroon, Ghana, and Togo.
However, during the week of the deployment, the Nigerian Navy’s Western Naval Command also conducted a PASSEX exercise southwest of Lagos. This exercise included the Nigerian patrol vessel NNS Kano (P270), the Brazilian Navy’s offshore patrol vessel APA (P121), the Italian Navy’s patrol vessel Comandante Bettica (P492), and the Spanish Navy’s Maritime Action Ship (BAM) Furor (P46).
During the piracy exercises, the participating forces carried out a mission to board a simulated hijacked fishing vessel, demonstrating the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s command and emergency response capabilities in a complex offshore environment. It is noteworthy that these activities are related to the escort missions China is conducting in the Gulf of Aden to ensure the safety of ships navigating hostile waters, which also occurs on the African side.
Nigeria, situated on the western coast of Africa facing the Atlantic Ocean, faces significant piracy challenges on its coasts and consequently in its maritime security. Therefore, the African country constantly conducts exercises to strengthen alliances and demonstrate its training and preparedness against acts of piracy.
As Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defense, stated, the exercises in which the Chinese Navy participates with other states, and in this particular case with an African country, allow for deepening exchanges and cooperation, laying the foundation for building a China-Africa alliance.
In July of last year, China’s Task Force 43 had visited the African country as part of a navigation mission to strengthen ties with various African countries located on the Atlantic coast. “…The visit aims to further deepen the relations that both countries maintain with each other and also to try to strengthen and improve our mutual relationship and cooperation… we believe that this visit will deepen cooperation between the military sectors of both countries,” expressed the Chinese ambassador of Nigeria to Peoples Gazette.
Photographs used for illustration purposes.
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