The active phase of the "Maritime Interaction – 2024" exercise begins
China and Russia have become objective partners in protecting their interests. Such partnership is expressed in many forms, and in particular in conducting joint naval exercises and patrols. On July 15, the active phase of the "Maritime Cooperation – 2024" maneuvers begins. In addition, ships of the two countries are conducting joint patrols in the Asia-Pacific region. About how the international exercises will take place, and about the development of naval cooperation between Russia and China - in the material of Izvestia.
Naval exercises
The Maritime Interaction exercises are already the thirteenth in a row. From the Russian side, the corvettes "Loud" and "Frisky" take part in them. They arrived at the port of Zhanjiang on July 12. This port is the main naval base of the Southern Fleet of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA). Its area of responsibility includes the South Philippine Sea and the Gulf of Tonkin. In total, the Chinese Navy consists of three fleets: Northern, Eastern and Southern.
On July 15, the active phase of maneuvers begins. In the meantime, the opening ceremony of the exercises was held in the port. The sailors visited each other's ships, sports events and sightseeing of Zhanjiang by Russian sailors were not forgotten. There was also a meeting of the leaders of the maneuvers, a meeting of working groups on the episodes of the exercise, and a drawing of practical actions on the maps.
Arrival of the ships of the Pacific Fleet in the Chinese port of Zhanjiang
Image source: Photo: TASS/press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
During the active phase of the "Maritime Interaction", the crews of Russian and Chinese ships will jointly perform a number of tasks. In particular, with the involvement of naval aviation of the PLA Navy, reconnaissance and search for ships and submarines of a likely enemy will take place. After that, anti-aircraft, rocket and artillery firing will be carried out on the detected targets of various types. The crews will work out combat training strikes from rocket-propelled bombs on coastal targets, measures for air defense and anti-sabotage defense of ships at sea. One of the elements of the maneuvers will be the development of joint search actions to assist an emergency submarine in distress with the rescue of sailors from the water.
From the PLA Navy, one destroyer, two frigates, a submarine, a marine corps unit and naval aviation are involved in the exercise. Their actions are supported by an integrated supply ship, sonar reconnaissance vessels, submarine rescue vessels, as well as an ocean tug. The active marine phase will end on July 17.
Photo: TASS/press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
— This alliance does not pose a threat to other states in any way, but on the contrary, symbolizes the maintenance of stability in the Asia-Pacific region, — said the commander of the detachment of Russian ships, Captain 1st rank Alexei Antsiferov.
The Ministry of Defense of the People's Republic of China reported that the exercises "are aimed at strengthening the capabilities and determination of the two sides to jointly counter threats to maritime security and preserve global and regional peace, as well as to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership and coordination between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation."
Izvestia's help
The first Russian-Chinese maneuvers, called "Maritime Cooperation", took place in April 2012 in the Yellow Sea near the city of Qingdao.
At that time, the Russian Navy was represented by the Varyag missile cruiser, the large anti-submarine ships Admiral Vinogradov, Admiral Tributs and Marshal Shaposhnikov, as well as three support vessels.
On the Chinese side, the destroyers Harbin, Fuzhou, Taizhou, Shenyang, four frigates, two submarines and a support vessel took part in them.
In the future, the exercises began to be held annually. And not only in the waters washing the eastern shores of our countries, but also in other regions.
The first part of the Maritime Interaction 2015 exercise was held in the Mediterranean Sea with the participation of ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The second part took place in Peter the Great Bay.
In 2016, the exercises were held for the first time in the South China Sea. In 2017, the first part of the Maritime Interaction exercise took place in the Baltic Sea, after which the ships of the PLA Navy took part in the main naval parade in Kronstadt. The second part of the exercises took place in the Seas of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk.
The purpose of such maneuvers is to find a common language when performing certain actions, as well as to share experiences. The Russian navy is now at the forefront in developing methods to combat unmanned combat boats, drones and cruise missiles of NATO countries. This is a technique that can be used against the PLA Navy in a hypothetical conflict over the island of Taiwan or in clashes over disputed islands in the South China Sea.
Pacific Ocean Maritime Patrol
Another way of interaction between the Russian and Chinese naval forces is joint patrolling. Its main tasks are to monitor the marine area and protect the objects of maritime economic activity of the two countries.
On July 4, 2024, the corvette "Perfect" and the tanker "Irkut" of the Pacific Fleet arrived at the rendezvous point with a detachment of warships of the PLA naval forces in the Korean Strait near Jeju Island. The detachment of ships of the PLA Navy includes the destroyer Yinchuan, the frigate Hengshui and the universal supply transport Weishanhu.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org/Alex omen
Image source: iz.ru
During the joint maritime patrol, it is planned to carry out joint actions on anti-submarine and air defense, a search and rescue operation at sea, and work out other elements of combat training. On July 9, the ships have already conducted training on the inspection of a suspicious vessel in the waters of the Philippine Sea. And on July 11, helicopters of the naval aviation of the Pacific Fleet and the PLA Navy worked out the organization of mutual landings on each other's ships.
Izvestia's help
The first joint patrol was conducted in October 2021 in the western Pacific Ocean. 10 ships and vessels took part in it.
Of these, the command ship Marshal Krylov, the large anti—submarine ships Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleev, as well as the corvettes Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov and Gromky are from the composition of the Pacific Fleet.
On the part of the PLA Navy, the destroyers "Kun Ming" and "Nan Chang", the corvettes "Bin Zhou" and "Liu Zhou", as well as the integrated supply ship "Dun Ping Hu" were involved. As part of the patrol, the group of ships passed through the Sangar Strait for the first time.
In total, the detachment traveled over 1,700 nautical miles.
Maneuvers are conducted in a certain area of the ocean that is closed to outsiders. At the same time, real rocket and artillery firing is carried out. Patrolling takes place in the form of a group of ships traveling along a certain route.
How is the Pacific Fleet developing?
Over the past 10 years, the surface forces of the Pacific Fleet have almost doubled. In 2014, it consisted of one cruiser, four large anti-submarine ships and one destroyer. In 2024, the Pacific Fleet includes a cruiser, three BOD, a frigate and five corvettes, four of which were built in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. This made it possible to conduct several trips of surface ships at the same time. Previously, this fleet could send, in fact, only one group of warships to the ocean.
Recently, the Pacific Fleet conducted major exercises — from June 18 to 29 in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan.
Military exercises of the Pacific Fleet from June 18 to 29, 2024
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/press service of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Federation
The maneuvers took place in a bilateral format: the forces of the joint command of troops and forces in the north-east of Russia against the forces of the Primorsky Flotilla. The main objectives of the exercises were to practice amphibious and anti-amphibious operations on the Kuril Islands.
Currently, the Varyag Guards missile cruiser and the Marshal Shaposhnikov frigate are in the Mediterranean Sea. Two corvettes are participating in exercises with China, and another is on patrol with them.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Dmitry Boltenkov
