China and Singapore hold joint maritime exercise
A joint maritime exercise between China and Singapore opened on Saturday (5/9) in Guangdong Province, southern China, marking the fifth such cooperation between the two countries.
The opening ceremony was held at a naval port in Zhanjiang. The exercise, conducted in the waters and airspace around the city, includes live-fire simulation, maritime logistics replenishment, and joint search and rescue operations.
Two warships are participating in the exercise: China’s guided-missile frigate Dali and Singapore’s frigate RSS Steadfast.
China’s Ministry of National Defence said earlier this week that the exercise aims to deepen mutual trust, strengthen practical cooperation, and enhance their ability to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.
According to the ministry, the exercise is being carried out in two phases, comprising port exchanges and at-sea simulation.
The two sides will exchange expertise on diving operations, submarine search and rescue, and underwater medicine, and will conduct simulations in communications, maritime logistics replenishment, joint maritime strike, and joint search and rescue.
Chinese military expert Zhang Junshe said the joint search and rescue simulation has significant practical meaning, given the heavy maritime traffic and complex weather and sea conditions in the South China Sea.
“Under the search and rescue zones designated by the International Maritime Organization, both China and Singapore have maritime rescue responsibilities in the relevant waters of the South China Sea, which requires the navies of both countries to fulfil these tasks,” Zhang said.
He also said the live-fire simulation and maritime logistics replenishment help improve the combat capabilities of both navies.
China and Singapore held their first bilateral maritime exercise in 2015. The joint exercise has become a regular agenda item in the military exchanges between the two countries in recent years.
In May 2025, the Chinese Navy deployed a guided-missile frigate and a minesweeper to Singapore to participate in a joint exercise.
In addition to holding regular joint maritime exercises with Singapore, China also conducts routine simulations and joint exercises with neighbouring countries, including Thailand and Cambodia.