Chinese and Pakistani naval forces are collaborating on their first-ever joint maritime patrol in the northern Arabian Sea, coinciding with the ongoing China-Pakistan Sea Guardian-3 joint exercise. This historic patrol involves the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s Type 054A frigate Linyi and the Pakistan Navy’s F-22P frigate Saif, with a primary objective to safeguard the vital China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The joint patrol, a significant component of the Sea Guardian-3 exercise, showcases the commitment and determination of both nations to protect CPEC. Training activities during the patrol include joint search and rescue operations, formation maneuvering, and VBSS (visit, board, search and seizure), enhancing their collective capabilities in addressing maritime security threats.
The Sea Guardian-3 exercise, now in its third and largest edition, emphasizes the strong naval interoperability between China and Pakistan. During the sea phase, a task group comprising six warships from both navies engaged in various training operations, such as VBSS, aerial photography, air defense, communications, and joint anti-submarine exercises.
The Arabian Sea holds strategic importance for China and Pakistan due to CPEC’s reliance on maritime routes. Experts suggest that joint naval patrols, like the ongoing initiative, may become a routine effort to secure this crucial sea lane from potential security threats.
Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, explained the distinction between a joint patrol and a joint exercise, stating that a joint patrol involves a military presence for swift response to emergencies and regional security safeguarding, while a joint exercise focuses on training with predefined goals and targets.
Given the significance of the Arabian Sea in facilitating goods and energy transport, especially within the context of CPEC, such joint naval patrols are expected to play a recurring role in ensuring the security of this vital maritime passage. The collaborative efforts underscore the close naval ties between China and Pakistan, with observers noting the high level of interoperability between their respective naval forces.
