The Xuchang, a Type 054A frigate in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy's 46th escort task force, completes a Nigerian multilateral joint exercise on June 1, 2024. Photo: Screenshot from China Central Television

A Chinese warship has recently wrapped up a multilateral joint exercise in Nigeria, a move analysts said on Monday saw the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy sail to far seas in the Atlantic, boosting military ties with other countries and contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world.

The PLANS (PLA Navy Ship) Xuchang, a Type 054A frigate in the PLA Navy's 46th escort task force, joined the six-day exercise from May 27 to Saturday as a part of the Nigerian Navy's 68th anniversary celebrations, the PLA Navy said in a press release on Sunday.

The Chinese warship took part in an opening ceremony, an international maritime conference themed "Promoting the Blue Economy in Africa through International Cooperation on Maritime Security," and the Regional Maritime Exercise, the PLA Navy said.

In the live action phase of the drills, the PLANS Xuchang coordinated closely with other countries' navies and conducted training exercises such as joint search and rescue, communications, maneuvering-in-formation and anti-piracy operations, according to the press release.

During the anti-piracy maneuvers, despite the challenging sea state with high waves, the participating forces fulfilled the mission of boarding a mock hijacked fishing ship, displaying the PLA Navy's commanding and emergency response capabilities in a complex environment in the far seas, the PLA Navy said.

The Xuchang also hosted an open-day event, a deck reception and a friendly sports competition during the harbor phase.

A total of 14 vessels from four countries, including Brazil and Cameroon, took part in the drills, the China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday.

After wrapping up the joint exercise, the PLANS Xuchang is returning to the Gulf of Aden and continue its escort missions, CCTV reported.

The participation of the PLA Navy in the exercise helps deepen military exchanges and practical cooperation between China and relevant countries and promote the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of National Defense, said at a press conference on Thursday, when he announced the PLA Navy's participation in the drills.

The joint drills focused on non-traditional security field, meaning that China is willing to join other countries' navies, including African ones, in safeguarding maritime order together, Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military expert, told the Global Times on Monday.

Wei said that since the PLA Navy has conducted escort missions in the Gulf of Aden over an extended period and effectively contained piracy activities, sharing its experiences with other countries in the joint exercises also contribute to the safeguard of maritime security as well as peace and stability in the region.

Nigeria is located on the western coast of Africa facing the Atlantic Ocean, so the PLA Navy's participation in the joint exercise also marks another step in its strides to the far seas, another Chinese military expert, who requested anonymity, told the Global Times on Monday.

It also displayed and further honed the far seas capabilities of the PLA Navy's modern warship, and garnered valuable experiences in future operations, the expert said.

The PLA Navy is continuing to develop, and as it takes part in more international exchanges in the far sea, it will show the world China's friendly posture, its comprehensive capabilities, and its contributions to peace and stability in the world, analysts said.