Chinese and Saudi navies launch joint counterterrorism exercise against backdrop of Israel-Hamas war

Name: Mainland China launches military drill near Taiwan in ‘severe warning to separatist forces’
Uploaded: 2023-10-10T05:44:19.000Z
Duration: 2 min 36 s
Description: Mainland China launches military drill near Taiwan in ‘severe warning to separatist forces’

Blue Sword-2023 focuses on overseas maritime counterterrorism operations and comprises basic training, professional training and comprehensive exercises

The timing of the joint drill was announced in September but now comes as the death toll from the most recent Israel-Hamas conflict exceeds 1,500

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China and Saudi Arabia kicked off a joint naval exercise on Monday, focusing on overseas maritime counterterrorism operations, according to Chinese state-owned media. Photo: CCTV

Seong Hyeon Choi

Published: 1:44pm, 10 Oct 2023Updated: 3:16pm, 10 Oct 2023

China and Saudi Arabia have launched a joint naval exercise that is focused on overseas maritime counterterrorism operations, according to Chinese state-owned media.

The exercises, attended by more than 100 service personnel from the two militaries, comes as the Middle East is hit by escalating armed conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The opening ceremony of the Blue Sword-2023 special warfare joint training was held at a naval brigade camp in Zhanjiang in Guangdong province on Monday, according to the Chinese military’s official newspaper, the PLA Daily.

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Mainland China launches military drill near Taiwan in ‘severe warning to separatist forces’

“The joint training between the special warfare units of the two navies is of great significance to deepening the pragmatic and friendly cooperation between the two militaries and improving the actual combat training level of the troops,” said the commander of the Chinese joint training unit whose name was not revealed.

“It is hoped that the participating officers and troops on both sides will learn from each other, cooperate closely, complete various training courses with high quality and continuously improve their joint action capabilities.”

Blue Sword-2023 focuses on overseas maritime counterterrorism operations and comprises three stages: basic training, professional training and comprehensive exercises.

Basic training and professional training involve shooting various weapons, rappelling from a helicopter, steering vessels, underwater searches and disposal of explosives, while the comprehensive exercise focuses on a joint special operations unit rescuing a hijacked merchant ship, as well as carrying out maritime assault rescue training.