IRIA News

Chinese and Pakistani navies kicked off largest-ever exercise in the waters and airspace of the northern Arabian Sea. The maritime exercise called ‘Sea Guardian-3’ also include anti-submarine operations. The naval drills will conclude on November 17.

The joint naval exercise, involving naval ships, submarine, and submarine rescue ships, kicked off with an opening ceremony at the Karachi Naval Dockyard on November 11, 2023, the Pakistan Navy said in a statement. The event was attended by Rear Admiral Liang Yang, Commander Qingdao Naval Base, and Vice Admiral Muhammad Faisal Abbasi, Commander Pakistan Fleet.

The week-long (November 11-17) exercise is dedicated to enhance the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, boost defense cooperation and deepen professional cooperation,” said Rear Admiral Liang Yang, commander at a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) base and the general director of the exercise from the Chinese side, said at the ceremony.

China and Pakistan are holding largest-ever joint naval drills ‘Sea Guardian-3’ in the northern Arabian Sea🇨🇳🇵🇰⚓️ pic.twitter.com/hng0jl40t6

— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) November 14, 2023

This is the third and the largest edition of the ‘Sea Guardian’ exercises. The first edition was held in 2020 in the northern Arabian Sea waters, and the second edition was held in 2022 in waters off Shanghai.

Participating naval vessels in Sea Guardian-3

The Sea Guardian-3 exercise witnessed the participation of forces from the Chinese PLA Navy. Chinese naval vessels participating in the exercise included the Type 052D guided missile destroyer Zibo, the Type 054A guided missile frigates Jingzhou and Linyi, Qiandaohu integrated supply ship alongside a conventional attack submarine. The exercise also included submarine support ship along with a marines corps detachment from the PLA Navy.

Pakistan Navy partcipated with nine vessels, including the PNS Saif guided missile frigate and Type 054A/P guided missile frigate PNS Shahjahan as well as three shipborne helicopters, four fighter jets, one fixed-wing anti-submarine patrol aircraft. Dozens of Pakistan Navy special forces and marines are also taking part of the exercise.

Under the shared objective of jointly responding to maritime security threats, the week-long exercise in the waters and airspace of the northern Arabian Sea will encompass diverse training courses. These include formation maneuvering, VBSS (visit, board, search and seizure), helicopter cross-deck landing, joint search and rescue, joint anti-submarine, and main gun shooting. The exercise will also involve professional exchanges and mutual visits.

Exercise to bolster naval cooperation and strategic partnership

Sea Guardian-3 is dedicated to enhancing the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, boosting defense cooperation, and deepening professional collaboration, Rear Admiral Liang Yang said. He emphasized the importance of joint operational capabilities to address maritime security threats and safeguard maritime peace.

Admiral M Amjad Khan Niazi, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy, highlighted earlier that the Sea Guardian exercises aim to foster interoperability and share professional experiences to address contemporary traditional and non-traditional security threats.

Wei Dongxu, a Chinese military expert, noted that the joint drills contribute to safeguarding strategic sea lanes, particularly in regions like the Indian Ocean, where piracy, terrorism, and other threats jeopardize maritime transport. These exercises also play a crucial role in securing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a vital component of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and contribute comprehensively to peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region.

In addition to joint drills, naval cooperation between China and Pakistan extends to high-level visits, expert talks, training exchanges, and equipment cooperation. The Sea Guardian-3 exercise stands as a testament to the deepening military collaboration between the two nations.