China and Thailand officially commenced their sixth joint maritime exercise, "Blue Strike-2025", on Wednesday morning at a military port in Zhanjiang, South China's Guangdong Province, with the drills set to continue until early April.
At around 09:00, the opening ceremony began with an order from a Chinese commander. Military personnel from both countries stood together as their national anthems were played, followed by addresses by senior Chinese and Thai naval officers.
This year's military exercise incorporates comprehensive maritime and land operations training, including joint mine countermeasures, surface target strikes, marine search and rescue, light weapons shooting, close-quarters combat, and field survival exercises.
"During this joint exercise, we will work with the Thai navy in mixed formations to complete a range of maritime and land-based training tasks designed to further enhance mutual exchanges and cooperation while improving our tactical and operational capabilities," said Li Shuaiqiang, a soldier from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.
As the sixth edition of the "Blue Strike" series, the joint exercise is an important step in implementing the consensus reached by the two navies. It aims to strengthen bilateral military ties, deepen practical cooperation, enhance joint operational capabilities, and contribute to regional maritime security. This year's training focuses on combat-oriented scenarios and coordinated actions.
"As a member of the [PLA Navy] Marine Corps, I feel deeply honored and proud to participate in this joint exercise with our foreign counterparts. Through the multi-subject training, we will not only enhance our individual skills and showcase the professionalism of the Chinese military but also contribute to strengthening China-Thailand friendship," said Xiao Zehua, another Chinese participant.
China, Thailand kick off joint maritime exercise Blue Strike-2025
