Pakistan, China conduct joint navy drills off Shanghai

ISLAMABAD: The 5th bilateral exercise between Pakistan Navy (PN) and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy held in Chinese waters off Shanghai cost.

Pakistan Navy Ship SAIF (FFG-253) and front-line warships of PLA(N) along with air and subsurface assets conducted the joint drills and naval maneuvers, according to a Radio Pakistan report.

The joint exercise aimed to develop interoperability between the naval forces of the two countries. In addition, marine teams of both PN and PLA(N) also held joint training and tactical drills.

The exercise will help in developing combined response by PN and PLA (N) in the face of conventional as well as asymmetric threat to maritime interests of both countries.

Earlier in September, the air forces of both countries conducted joint training exercises in northwest China.

Shaheen VI” began on Sept. 7 and was fully open to media for the first time.

China dispatched J-11 fighters, JH-7 fighter-bombers, KJ-200 AWACS aircraft and ground forces including surface-to-air missile and radar troops, while Pakistan has sent JF-17 Thunder fighter jets and early warning aircraft to join the exercise.

“Shaheen-VI”, is the sixth in the series of joint air exercises between air forces of Pakistan and China, which is conducted each year in both countries on alternate basis. China’s Air Force contingent participated in “Shaheen-V” which was conducted in Pakistan last year.

The “Shaheen” joint training was launched in March 2011.