On July 20, ships from the Russian and Chinese Navies concluded the “Joint Sea 2024” Combined Naval Exercise, which aimed to enhance the training and readiness of crews and assets against maritime, coastal, and aerial targets in the South China Sea. The bilateral military activity began on July 12 with a port phase near the town of Zhanjiang and was followed by the sea phase on July 15.
Over the course of the exercise, personnel and assets from both navies conducted drills in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare scenarios, as well as defending a group of ships against aerial threats and escorting maritime convoys. They also carried out combined search and rescue exercises in the open sea, which took place off the coast of Zhanjiang.
Regarding the participating ships, the Russian Navy sent the corvettes Rezkiy and Gromkiy from the Pacific Fleet to take part in the exercise, while the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) sent the destroyer Yinchuan, the frigate Hengshui, and the supply ship Weishanhu.
According to the Global Times, on Wednesday, the destroyer Nanning and the Russian corvette Gromkiy were tasked with intercepting simulated high-speed anti-ship missile attacks using unmanned aerial vehicles as targets. The Chinese ship launched an anti-aircraft missile, while simultaneously, the Gromkiy, several nautical miles away, used its main gun to neutralize the threat.
Since 2012, the Joint Sea series of exercises has become a key element in deepening naval cooperation at the military level between China and Russia. Over the years, both countries have sought to improve the scope and interoperability in combined maritime military operations and the capabilities to jointly address threats. These efforts have been noted by experts as a response to other combined exercises conducted by the United States and other countries in the region, considering recent tensions in the South China Sea with the Philippines, a country opposing China’s claims on the islands and reefs in the region.
Although this has occurred on various occasions, it is not the first time that the presence of naval assets has been used to demonstrate combined power and strength. This exercise between the Chinese and Russian Navies not only captured the attention of the media and countries but also highlighted the nature of the relationships that have been built and strengthened over the years, with the Asia-Pacific region as the main stage for disputes.
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