Islamabad: China and Pakistan have commenced the Sea Guardian-3, the largest-ever joint naval exercise, aimed at safeguarding strategic sea lanes in regions such as the Indian Ocean. The exercise kicked off with an opening ceremony at the Karachi Naval Dockyard.
Chinese military expert Wei Dongxu highlighted the common interests shared by China and Pakistan in jointly addressing maritime security threats, including piracy, terrorism, and other dangerous activities that pose risks to the transport of energy and goods in crucial sea lanes.
Participating forces from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy include the Type 052D guided missile destroyer Zibo, the Type 054A guided missile destroyers Jingzhou and Linyi, along with a conventional attack submarine, a submarine support ship, and a marine corps detachment. The nine-day exercise in the northern Arabian Sea will cover various training aspects, including formation maneuvering, VBSS (visit, board, search and seizure), helicopter cross-deck landing, joint search and rescue, joint anti-submarine operations, and main gun shooting.
Rear Admiral Liang Yang, the commander at a PLA Navy base and the general director of the exercise, emphasized that the Sea Guardian-3 is dedicated to enhancing the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between China and Pakistan. The exercise aims to boost defense cooperation and deepen professional collaboration to better deal with maritime security threats and safeguard maritime peace.
The joint drills not only serve to enhance the capabilities of both navies but also contribute to the peace and stability of the Indian Ocean region. The exercise is seen as crucial for safeguarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, an integral part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Beyond joint exercises, China-Pakistan naval cooperation includes high-level visits, expert talks, training exchanges, and equipment cooperation. This collaboration further solidifies the strategic partnership between the two nations, with observers anticipating continued and in-depth cooperation between the PLA Navy and the Pakistan Navy in the future.
