Chinese and Thai naval fleets conduct replenishment-at-sea during the China-Thailand Blue Strike-2023 joint naval training exercise in the Gulf of Thailand on September 8, 2023. Photo: Xinhua
China and Thailand will soon kick off a joint naval exercise off China's southern coast, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced on Monday. A Chinese military affairs expert said the drill will improve interoperability and contribute to regional peace and stability.
Based on a mutual agreement, the China-Thailand Blue Strike-2025 joint naval exercise will be held near Zhanjiang, South China's Guangdong Province from late March to early April, China's Ministry of National Defense announced in a statement on Monday.
The joint training will focus on urban counter-terrorism tactics, joint maritime strike operations and joint anti-submarine exercises, according to the Chinese Defense Ministry.
This marks the sixth time that the two navies conduct this series of joint exercises, which holds positive significance for deepening practical cooperation between the two navies and enhancing their capabilities for joint maritime operations, the Chinese Defense Ministry said.
The previous edition of the Blue Strike series exercise, the Blue Strike-2023, was held in Thailand in September 2023, China Central Television (CCTV) reported at the time.
Wang Yunfei, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Monday that the Blue Strike series exercise is a long-standing joint exercise between the Chinese and Thai militaries.
This exercise series usually features both non-traditional security aspects, such as counter-terrorism, maritime rescue and humanitarian aid, and traditional security aspects, such as maritime strike and anti-submarine operations, Wang noted.
The drills have played a positive role in safeguarding regional peace and stability, as it serves as an example that China and an ASEAN member state can carry out various cooperation such as anti-piracy and maintaining the security of maritime lanes, Wang said, adding that the cooperation between China and Thailand shows that China is an important positive factor to the stability in the South China Sea.
According to a video released by the Royal Thai Navy on its official channel on YouTube, the Thai side is sending the HTMS
Angthong amphibious landing ship, the HTMS
Chao Phraya and HTMS
Kraburi frigates and the HTMS
Prachuap Khiri Khan offshore patrol vessel to Zhanjiang for the Blue Strike 2025 joint naval exercise.
The HTMS
Chao Phraya and HTMS
Kraburi are Type 053HT series frigates that China built for Thailand, openly available reports show.
Wang noted that the Thai Type 053HT frigates share a number of training and operational methods as well as weapons and equipment with their Chinese counterparts, and this exercise will boost interoperability between the two countries' navies.
China and Thailand also hold regular joint exercises under the Falcon Strike series joint air force exercise and the Strike series joint army exercise.
The two countries' land, sea and air forces all conduct joint exercises, reflecting the comprehensiveness of the China-Thailand military cooperation and showing a high level of mutual trust, Wang said.
