Chinese and Russian navies drill in South China Sea

On July 14, China and Russia began a joint exercise between the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and the Russian Navy in the South China Sea. The China-Russia Maritime Interaction-2024 naval exercise kicked off in Zhanjiang, Guangdong which houses the Navy headquarters of the PLA Southern Theater Command. The drills will take place from July 15-17.

The PLAN has deployed the Type 052D guided-missile destroyer Nanning, Type 054A guided-missile frigates Xianning and Dali, Type 903 replenishment oiler Weishanhu and accompanying aviation assets and PLAN Marines (PLANMC). Meanwhile, the Russian Navy dispatched the Steregushchiy-class Gromkiy and Rezkiy corvettes alongside the Irkut oiler.

Joint warship formations are set to carry out live-fire drills, joint stationary defence, joint reconnaissance and early warning, joint search and rescue (SAR) as well as joint air defence, as well as an anti-submarine (ASW) exercise around the vicinity of Zhanjiang waters. China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said that the exercise “is to demonstrate the resolve and capabilities of the two sides in jointly addressing maritime security threats and preserving global and regional peace and stability, and it will further deepen the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era.”

Furthermore, the MND also announced another Chinese-Russian joint maritime exercise in the western and northern Pacific Ocean, the fourth such activity. Beijing has reiterated that the patrol did not have anything to do with international and regional situations or targeted at any party. The maritime patrol comprised another Steregushchiy-class corvette Sovershenny, Type 052D destroyer Yinchuan, Type 054A frigate Hengshui and Weishanhu. Throughout the patrol, the two sides will hold ASW and air defence drills.-shp/adj/dl (Pix:JSDF)