Pakistan, China aim to bolster defence ties further

Islamabad: Iron-brothers Pakistan and China aim to bolster bilateral defence ties further through a joint naval exercise that began in Karachi.

Besides Pakistan Navy’s assets, Chinese naval assets including warships, fleet tanker and marine forces are taking part in the exercise.

Pakistan and China’s arch-rival India has been deploying submarines and warships along the same area. But the Chinese side has maintained that it had nothing to do with the situation in the region and was not targeted at any third party, China Economic Net reported.

This is the sixth bilateral exercise – code-named Sea Guardians 2020 – between the Pakistan Navy and Chinese Navy. Deputy

Commander of Chinese Navy’s Southern Theater Command Vice Admiral Dong Jun was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Commander Pakistan fleet Vice Admiral Asif Khaliq said Exercise Sea Guardians will usher into a new era of cooperation between navies of the two countries.

Exercise Sea Guardians 2020 is aimed at exchanging professional experiences against maritime threats and naval cooperation between the two countries.

The bilateral exercise will also play a role in promotion of safe and stable maritime environment in the region.

Officials said the joint exercise with Pakistan will bring the two countries even closer amid the existing fraternal ties.

China is being represented by five major ships, including the guided-missile destroyer Yinchuan, the guided-missile frigate Yuncheng, the comprehensive supply ship Weishanhu, and the submarine rescue ship Liugongdao.

Pakistan Navy has deployed two Zulfiquar-class F22P/F21 frigates, two fast attack craft, one fixed-wing anti-submarine patrol aircraft, two ship-borne helicopters and more than 60 special operations soldiers.

The two sides will pursue a number of training objectives, including joint patrol, air-defence, joint anti-submarine, maritime live-firing, and joint marine training.

The drill will eventually become the basis for the “two navies to test and improve their technical and tactical capabilities, maintain regional marine security, learn from each other and enhance the level of cooperation, and synergy,” Pakistan Navy said.

The two countries have also been conducting warrior series exercises between the two ground forces and the eagle series between their air forces.

Pakistan and China enjoy strong military ties. In recent years this relationship has strengthened through ongoing military projects and agreements between Pakistan and China.

Since 1962, China has been a steady source of military equipment to the Pakistani Army, helping establish ammunition factories, providing technological assistance and modernising existing facilities.

China and Pakistan are involved in several projects to enhance military and weaponry systems, which include the joint development of the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, K-8 Karakorum advance training aircraft, a tailor made training aircraft for the Pakistan Air Force based on the Chinese domestic Hongdu L-15, space technology, AWACS systems, Al-Khalid tanks, which China granted license production and tailor made modifications based on the initial Chinese Type 90 and/or MBT-2000.

China has designed tailor-made advanced weapons for Pakistan, making it a strong military power in the Asian region. The armies have a schedule for organising joint military exercises.

China is the largest investor in Pakistan’s Gwadar Deep Sea Port, which is strategically located at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz.