The Pakistan Navy and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy have started their second joint “Sea Guardians” exercise under the theme “joint response to maritime security threats.” Led by Commodore Rashid Mehmood Sheikh from Pakistan and Rear Admiral Liu Zhigang from China, the exercise was launched from the military port at Wusong, Shanghai. The Chinese navy is represented by the frigate Xiangtan, the corvette Shuozhou, the comprehensive supply ship Qiandaohu, a submarine, an early warning aircraft, two fighter jets and a helicopter. For its part, the Pakistani navy has sent frigate Taimur to the four-day exercise.
Frigate Taimur is the second four Type 054A/P frigates built by China for the Pakistan Navy, having been delivered on 23 June 2022. The Pakistan Navy had earlier described the Taimur as a vessel “equipped with high-tech weapons and sensors, and the latest combat management and electronic warfare systems to fight in multi-threat environments.”
Chinese media quoted Rear Admiral Liu as saying that the exercise will feature “training courses including joint strike against maritime targets, joint tactical maneuvering, joint anti-submarine warfare and joint support for damaged vessels.”
The first “Sea Guardians” exercise had been kicked off in January 2020 from Karachi, and its successful conclusion paved the way for further training cooperation between the two navies.
