China—ASEAN Joint Naval Drill

The navies of China and the 10 ASEAN member states conducted their first joint maritime exercise， the ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise 2018， in Zhanjiang， Guangdong Province， from October 22 to 28， 2018. The exercise included the application of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea as well as search and rescue operations and communications exercises. Eight ships， three helicopters， five observers and more than 1，200 personnel from China and every ASEAN country participated in the exchange on shore and exercises in the waters east of Zhanjiang.

The exercise aimed to advance defense cooperation and maritime security between China and ASEAN and complete application of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea， said Zhu Jianda， Chinese commander of the shore-based joint command for the exercise.

“It is indeed an important step for us all to gather here for the opening ceremony of this milestone for ASEAN and China，” remarked Lew Chuen Hong， Singapores naval chief.

Participating ships included the guided missile destroyer Guangzhou， guided missile frigate Huangshan and replenishment ship Junshanhu from China， frigates Stalwart （Singapore）， Taksin （Thailand） and Tran Hung Dao （Vietnam）， patrol ship Daruttaqwa （Brunei） and logistics support ship BRP Dagupan City （the Philippines）.