China and Singapore embark on bigger joint navy exercise as South China Sea tensions rise
“As the third edition of this series of exercise, it will further enhance mutual trust and friendship, and promote practical exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries.”
“The strong and friendly defence relationship between Singapore and China is exemplified by Exercise Maritime Cooperation,” Kwan said.
“This exercise has consistently provided invaluable opportunities for our navies to learn from each other, build mutual trust and understanding, and forge friendships.”
The People’s Liberation Army Navy has sent its Type 054A frigate Sanya and Type 082-II minesweeper Hejian to take part with Singapore’s Formidable-class frigate RSS Stalwart, which arrived in Zhanjiang on Thursday.
The exercise – which comprises a range of offshore drills, such as helicopter cross-deck landing, gunnery firing, search-and-rescue and manoeuvring exercises – underscored the “long-standing, warm and friendly bilateral defence relationship between Singapore and China,” the Singapore defence ministry press release said.
The two militaries engage their armies in another Cooperation drill series that they say focuses on counterterrorism, most recently in September last year.
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On Saturday, Chinese and Philippine coastguards collided – the third time in August – near the disputed Sabina Shoal, exchanging blame and accusing each other of deliberately ramming the other’s vessels.