China, Pakistan Held First Naval Exercise in East China Sea

摘要

The Pakistani Navy and the Chinese People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) concluded an exercise, codenamed Friends in the East China Sea. The exercise, which took place from December 31, 2015 to January 1, 2016, was part of a seven-day visit to Shanghai by a Pakistani naval taskforce consisting of a frigate and a supply ship. This is the first time navies of both the countries conducted exercises in the East China Sea which separates China and Japan. The exercise included a joint drill focused on ship formation movement, search and rescue, and live-fire exercises striking aerial and sea targets. The exercise also included an anti-piracy component and an anti-submarine warfare component.