According to information published by Global Times on September 4, 2023, the navies of China and Thailand are holding a joint exercise closely following joint drills by the armies and air forces of the two countries.
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Type 071 comprehensive landing ship Simingshan. (Picture source: Chinese MoD)
These consecutive interactions will promote military cooperation, with a latest example being the Thai navy chief's approval of the use of a Chinese engine in a China-Thailand submarine deal.
The China-Thailand Blue Strike-2023 joint naval training exercise is scheduled to be held from September 3 to September 10 in the upper Gulf of Thailand and a marine camp in Sattahip.
With the aim of enhancing the participating forces' training level and interoperability, boosting the two navies' pragmatic cooperation and elevating the capability in jointly dealing with regional security threats, the training exercise will feature subjects including sniping tactics, jungle survival, maritime search and rescue as well as cross-deck helicopter landings, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson.
It marks the fifth edition of the Blue Strike bilateral naval exercises held since 2010.
Chinese forces participating in the exercise, including the Type 071 comprehensive landing ship Simingshan, the Type 054A guided missile frigate Anyang, the Type 903A comprehensive replenishment ship Chaohu, a Marine Corps unit and a vessel-borne helicopter unit, arrived at the Port of Sattahip in Thailand.
Just before the naval drill, armies of the two countries wrapped up the 18-day Strike-2023 joint training exercise in Thailand. The two countries' air forces also held the 21-day Falcon Strike-2023 joint air combat drill in Thailand in July.
