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[Global Times reporter Guo Yuandan] The China-Russia "Maritime Joint-2024" military exercise entered the maritime exercise phase on the 15th. During the three-day joint exercise, multiple subjects such as joint search and rescue and joint air defense and anti-missile were carried out. Experts interviewed by the Global Times reporter said that the exercise subjects are close to actual combat, which can deepen the mutual understanding and traditional friendship between the Chinese and Russian navies in terms of strategy, and in terms of military, the navies of both sides can enhance their respective maritime combat capabilities.

The opening ceremony of the exercise. Photo by Luan Cheng

The participating ships have strong comprehensive combat capabilities

The China-Russia "Joint Sea 2024" exercise is based on the theme of "joint response to maritime security threats" and is divided into three stages: troop assembly, port and shore planning, and maritime exercises. It aims to demonstrate the determination and ability of both sides to jointly respond to maritime security threats and maintain international and regional peace and stability, and further deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Russia in the new era.

China and Russia sent a total of 7 ships to participate in the exercise. The Chinese participating forces include the guided missile destroyer Nanning, the guided missile frigates Xianning and Dali, the comprehensive supply ship Weishanhu, as well as ship-borne helicopters and marines. The Russian naval forces participating in the exercise are composed of the frigates "Sounding" and "Ling Lie" and the oil tanker "Irkut".

Military expert Zhang Junshe said in an interview with the Global Times on the 17th that most of the Chinese and Russian warships participating in the exercise are new main battleships that have not been in service for a long time. These ships have strong comprehensive combat capabilities such as sea strike and air defense. "This shows that both sides attach great importance to the exercise. Among them, the Chinese command ship Nanning is a Type 052D missile destroyer. The Type 052D destroyer is known as the 'Chinese Aegis' and has relatively strong comprehensive combat capabilities."

It is reported that the two Russian frigates participating in the exercise are Type 20380 missile frigates, the first multi-purpose missile frigates made in Russia after the end of the Cold War. They have strong air defense, anti-ship and anti-submarine capabilities and strong comprehensive combat capabilities.

Realization of combat

On July 15, the China-Russia "Joint Sea-2024" military exercise entered the maritime exercise phase. According to the exercise plan, the Chinese and Russian naval fleets carried out exercises including anchorage defense, joint reconnaissance and early warning, joint search and rescue, joint air defense and anti-missile, and organized the actual use of weapons during the three-day maritime exercise.

On the 16th, Russia's Sputnik News Agency quoted the Information Assurance Department of the Russian Pacific Fleet as saying that the Russian and Chinese navies conducted artillery bombardments on imaginary maritime targets during the "Joint Sea-2024" joint exercise in the South China Sea. At the same time, the combat teams of Russian and Chinese warships carried out rocket depth charge shooting missions during the actual combat phase.

Zhang Junshe analyzed that the subjects of this Sino-Russian joint exercise are all set according to the actual needs of maritime operations and are highly practical. "For example, in the subject of anchorage defense, ships sometimes need to anchor at sea during maritime operations, so anchorage defense is very important. Unlike ports with complete defense facilities, anchorage defense requires long-range, medium-range and short-range defense against incoming targets such as underwater submarines, frogmen, small speedboats and aircraft in the air. During this process, various types of equipment such as radar, sonar, optoelectronics, etc. must be used. It is a relatively complex but very practical subject."

Should not be considered a "targeted exercise"

In addition, the Russian Pacific Fleet also stated that "the maritime part of the Russian-Chinese naval 'Maritime Joint-2024' exercise started with an anti-submarine exercise. After joint efforts by both sides, the 'destruction of enemy submarines' was discovered and simulated in the waters of the South China Sea."

In this regard, some foreign media analysts believe that although the Russian press release did not give specific details about this anti-submarine exercise, because the exercise was conducted in the South China Sea, the simulated target was likely to be a US submarine. "This speculation by foreign media is unfounded. First, the attack on underwater targets in the anti-submarine course is mainly to train and improve the detection, early warning and strike capabilities of the two countries' naval ships against underwater targets, and is not aimed at a certain country. Secondly, foreign media paid special attention to the sea area of ​​the China-Russia exercise. Perhaps based on the background of more US submarine activities in the South China Sea, they speculated that this anti-submarine exercise was aimed at US submarines," said Zhang Junshe.

In fact, since 2012, China and Russia have conducted more than ten "maritime joint" exercises, and this is not the first time that exercises have been conducted in the South China Sea. The China-Russia "Maritime Joint-2016" exercise was held in the sea and air space east of Zhanjiang, Guangdong. Zhang Junshe said that the China-Russia "Maritime Joint" series of exercises are held in the waters near the two countries in turn, and the "Maritime Joint" series of exercises held in the waters near China have been held in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea. Zhang Junshe analyzed that the "Maritime Joint" series of exercises, from the exercise assumptions to the exercise course settings, did not target third parties, but foreign media still viewed it with tinted glasses and forced it to be a part of the issue.