China and Pakistan kick off joint naval drills at Shanghai port

Beijing: China and Pakistan on Sunday launched a four-day joint maritime exercise off the coast of Shanghai.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and the Pakistan Navy will hold joint naval drill Sea Guardians-2 in maritime and aerial spaces off Shanghai in mid-July, Liu Wensheng, a spokesperson for the PLA Navy, said in a statement on Sunday.
Themed “jointly dealing with maritime security threats,” the exercise will feature training courses including joint strike against maritime targets, joint tactical maneuvering, joint anti-submarine warfare and joint support for damaged vessels, Global Times quoted Liu as saying.
The drill’s goal is to enhance defense cooperation, conduct professional and technical exchanges, deepen traditional friendship between the two countries and the two navies, and promote the development of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between China and Pakistan, Liu added.
The exercise is a “normal arrangement according to an annual schedule, and it is not aimed at a third party,” Liu said.
The PLA Eastern Theater Command Navy sent the frigate Xiangtan, the corvette Shuozhou, the comprehensive supply ship Qiandaohu, a submarine, an early warning aircraft, two fighter jets and a helicopter, while the Pakistan Navy’s frigate Taimur joined the exercise, the report said.
Taimur is the second of four powerful Type 054A/P frigates built by China. It was delivered to the Pakistan Navy in Shanghai on June 23. The first ship in the Type 054A/P-class, the Tughril, joined the Pakistan Navy Fleet in January. (UNI)