China-Pakistan to deepen military ties with Arabian Sea exercises

Analytics 17:33 25.12.2019

China and Pakistan are set to hold joint military exercises in January 2020 in the Arabian Sea. The naval exercises are anticipated to include the participation of a Chinese destroyer, frigate, a supplement ship, and submarine rescue ships, according to China’s Ministry of National Defense.

“The exercise is conducive to deepening security cooperation between the two militaries, consolidating and developing the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, and promoting the building of a maritime community with a shared future,” said Ren Guoqiang, the ministry’s spokesman.

The joint drills are significant, especially for China, as it gains experience in conducting operations off of the Pakistani coast in the Arabian Sea. This body of water feeds into the Indian Ocean, a maritime area that has grown in strategic importance as Chinese economic ties have expanded and as the country has sought to modernize its military and establish a blue water navy.

China and Pakistan engage in a series of other bilateral and multilateral joint exercises across different branches of their militaries. The Sino-Pakistani “Warrior” series is dedicated to curbing terrorism threats. Its seventh iteration, held earlier this month in Pakistan with members of each military’s special forces, included mobilization of forces using vehicles and aerial transportation. Chinese officials stated that the drills focused on deepening cooperation and communication.

A new exercise was also introduced, the joint defense of key facilities in mountainous areas, likely in an effort to simulate protection of government or civilian buildings, as well as major investment projects under the umbrella of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), one of the branches of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Chinese consulate in Karachi was targeted in late 2018 by terrorists. More recently, in May 2019, gunmen attacked and stormed a luxury hotel in Balochistan overlooking that port of Gwadar. Gwadar has been the site of significant Chinese investment and is viewed as one of the core hubs of CPEC.

Additionally, the two air forces also carry out extensive joint drills, including the Shaheen exercises, which wrapped up their eight iteration in a two-week drill in September that featured top aircraft from China and Pakistan in northwestern China. Various warplanes, surface-to-air missiles, and radar installations from both China and Pakistan participated in mock battles.

Multilaterally, Pakistan hosted the sixth iteration of Aman-19 in early February, which brought together 46 countries, international warships, and observers for a set of maritime conferences, seminars, ship visits, sea operations (including main-gun firing, formation movement, and at-sea refueling). The multilateral exercises are intended to boost cooperation among regional and extraregional navies in the Indian Ocean; among the regular attendees are China and the United States.

While the Beijing-Islamabad relationship is often touted as tight-knit and special, the flurry of joint exercises conducted by Chinese military units is not only unique to Pakistan. China has steadily expanded its military exchanges and drills with many partners over the past decade and a half, particularly with other neighboring powers such as Russia, Pakistan, and India, as well as in multilateral settings via the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or the U.S.-hosted multilateral RIMPAC exercise.

These joint drills are a visible diplomatic demonstration of capabilities but are also a valuable resource and opportunity for training, cross military coordination, readiness, and information gathering. As China continues to invest significantly in Pakistan, the label of “all-weather friend” may be tested if the security environment continues to be challenged. Still, the two neighbors are likely to remain regular military partners going into 2020 and beyond.

 

Written by Eleanor Albert

The article was originally published in Diplomacy. It doesn't reflect Eurasia Diary's position.

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

Israel holding secret talks with Russia on Iran, Syria during ceasefire Report
11:45 03.07.2025
Sadyr Japarov to attend ECO summit in Azerbaijan
11:30 03.07.2025
US paves way to resume ethane exports to China amid trade truce
11:15 03.07.2025
Bali ferry sinking leaves at least four dead, dozens missing
11:00 03.07.2025
US contractors say their colleagues are firing live ammo as Palestinians seek food in Gaza
10:55 03.07.2025
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry: 'We call on Russian side to refrain from steps and statements that artificially aggravate situation'
10:30 03.07.2025
Scientists find natural substance stopping spread of cancer cells
10:15 03.07.2025
Haber Global: Azerbaijan hosts important forums ahead of ECO summit
10:00 03.07.2025
Number of Azerbaijanis arrested in Russia's Yekaterinburg reaches 8
09:45 03.07.2025
14 injured after skydiving plane crashes at New Jersey airport
09:20 03.07.2025
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev make press statements
09:10 03.07.2025
WB allocates $2M for preparation of sustainable development project in Baku
22:00 02.07.2025
Malaysia inviting Azerbaijan to participate in trade incentive program
21:45 02.07.2025
Malaysia expects further expansion of palm oil trade with Azerbaijan
21:30 02.07.2025
EBRD updates current portfolio of projects in Azerbaijan
21:30 02.07.2025
12 Georgian MPs lose parliamentary mandates
21:00 02.07.2025
Asan Jakishev: Kazakhstan strengthens status as key transit hub in region
20:40 02.07.2025
Zakharova: 'We call on Baku to take measures to return ties to level of strategic alliance'
20:30 02.07.2025
Kyrgyz ambassador to Azerbaijan also appointed as envoy to Georgia
20:20 02.07.2025
Bangladesh court sentences ex-Premier Hasina in contempt case; first conviction since ouster
20:00 02.07.2025
Russia says reduction or cessation of Western arms supplies to Ukraine brings conflict closer to its end
19:45 02.07.2025
Israeli prosecution cancels Netanyahu’s corruption trial sessions next week over US visit
19:30 02.07.2025
Mamasadyk Bakirov: Kyrgyzstan creates all necessary conditions for business
19:15 02.07.2025
Lachin holds panel session on Role of Women in Urban Development
19:00 02.07.2025
Central banks of Azerbaijan, Georgia mull implementation of systems supported by AI
18:45 02.07.2025
Azerbaijani military personnel participate in International Anatolian Eagle-2025
18:30 02.07.2025
Shavkat Mirziyoyev to open Uzbekistan park in Baku
18:15 02.07.2025
Peskov: Head of Russia's Investigative Committee, Azerbaijan's prosecutor general mull problematic issues
18:00 02.07.2025
South Korean ex-premier, minister summoned over Yoon’s martial law probe
17:45 02.07.2025
Trump says Israel has agreed to 'necessary conditions' to finalize 60-day ceasefire in Gaza
17:30 02.07.2025
DR Congo-Rwanda peace deal ‘does not address serious crimes committed in the east': Amnesty International
17:15 02.07.2025
China again urges its citizens to avoid travel to Iran
17:00 02.07.2025
Australia's Qantas says 6 million customer accounts accessed in cyber hack
16:45 02.07.2025
US accuses UN expert of ‘economic warfare’ over report on companies aiding Israeli occupation
16:30 02.07.2025
150 National Guard troops reassigned from Los Angeles security mission to wildfire response
16:00 02.07.2025
Israeli strikes kill another 29 Palestinians in Gaza Strip
15:45 02.07.2025
Revenue of China’s software industry grows by 11.2%
15:30 02.07.2025
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev’s one-on-one meeting with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev begins
15:20 02.07.2025
Zakharova: Friendly relations between Russia, Azerbaijan extremely important
15:15 02.07.2025
President of Northern Cyprus arrives in Azerbaijan
15:00 02.07.2025
Hamısı