Since Sunday, July 14th, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China and the Russian Navy have been conducting joint exercises in the northern and western Pacific Ocean, following their annual activity plan and mutual agreement to strengthen maritime cooperation, as explained in an official statement from Beijing’s Ministry of Defense.
These exercises began last Sunday from the naval port in Zhanjiang, located in Guangdong province in southern China. Activities include live-fire shooting exercises, stationary defense tasks, reconnaissance and early warning operations, search and rescue missions, as well as high seas air defense activities.
The PLAN has deployed the Type 052D destroyer Nanning, the Type 054A frigates Xianning and Dali, the Type 903 replenishment ship Weishanhu, and embarked helicopters. On the Russian side, the deployment includes the Steregushchiy-class corvettes Gromkiy and Rezkiy (Project 20380), along with the tanker Irkut, assigned to the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet.
According to Chinese military statements, the exercise is scheduled to last until mid-July, aiming to demonstrate the combined capabilities of both navies to address maritime security threats and uphold global and regional peace and stability. It also aims to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia.
China’s Ministry of Defense clarified that the joint naval exercise is not directed at any third party and is not related to current international or regional situations. The warships involved in last Sunday’s joint patrol are mostly different from those participating in the current joint exercise, as reported by the Russian news agency Tass on July 4th. The joint patrol included the Russian corvette Sovershenny, the Type 052D destroyer Yinchuan, the Type 054A frigate Hengshui, and the replenishment ship Type 903 Weishanhu from the PLAN.
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