Sino-New Zealand Naval Ship Visits Set to Transition to Maritime Joint Exercises

The "Maritime Cooperation-2026" joint exercise between China and Singapore is currently underway. Yesterday (September 7), the Singapore Navy's RSS Formidable frigate arrived at a military port in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, where personnel from both sides boarded the Formidable and the Dali to visit, marking the end of the port phase of the exercise.

Amidst the majestic military music, the Singapore Navy's RSS Formidable slowly docked at the pier, and Chinese personnel warmly welcomed the guests from afar.

Singapore Navy Sandia: Hello everyone, I am Sandia from the Singapore Navy. It is an honor to have the opportunity to participate in this exercise. This is a great platform for us to exchange practical experiences, and this experience has been very rewarding for me on a professional level and is unforgettable. I will cherish the new friendships formed here.

It is understood that both sides have conducted professional exchanges on three subjects: diving operations, submarine search and rescue, and underwater medicine. Experts from the Southern Theater Command Navy and the Navy Medical University, along with Singaporean experts, discussed professional issues and shared experiences.

Chinese participating officer Yang Fan: Although the underwater world is secretive, safety cooperation can be transparent. The diving specialties of the navies of China and Singapore may differ in systems and equipment, but our missions are aligned, and our challenges are similar. We firmly believe that through open communication and mutual learning, we will promote the joint enhancement of both sides' diving operational capabilities, injecting new momentum into regional maritime security and non-traditional security cooperation.

Currently, in addition to professional exchanges and ship visits, both sides have also held activities such as a deck reception. Next, the RSS Formidable and the Dali will depart the port to conduct the maritime phase of the exercise in the air and sea area near Zhanjiang.

Singapore Navy Fleet Deputy Commander Huang Yanming: Singapore and China have a solid and long-standing bilateral relationship. This relationship is built on high-level exchanges and various cooperative activities, including mutual visits and exchanges between our navies. The "Maritime Cooperation-2026" joint exercise is another milestone in our commitment to enhancing mutual trust, and I look forward to more cooperation between both sides in the future.