China, Singapore launch live-action maritime drill in South China Sea

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's minesweeper hunter Chishui departs from the Changi Naval Base for the sea phase of the China-Singapore Exercise Maritime Cooperation 2025 on May 14, 2025. (Photo/Screenshot from the Weibo account of China Bugle, an official media account affiliated with the PLA news media center)

China and Singapore launched a two-day live-action maritime drill in the South China Sea on Wednesday in a move a Chinese expert said is conducive to regional security and stability, given Singapore's location by the Strait of Malacca.

Participating warships from the Chinese and Singaporean navies set out from Singapore's Changi Naval Base on Wednesday, rendezvousing at a preset training area to kick off the two-day live-action maritime drill, reported China Bugle, an official media account affiliated with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) news media center.

At 9 am, the PLA Navy's minesweeper hunter Chishui and guided missile frigate Xuchang left the port under the assistance of Singaporean tug boats and support personnel together with the Singaporean Navy's frigate RSS Steadfast, China Bugle reported, noting that the three vessels rendezvoused with the Singaporean mine countermeasure vessel RSS Bedok.

According to a news release by Singapore's Defense Ministry, the sea phase is to be conducted in the southern reaches of the South China Sea within international waters from Wednesday to Thursday.

The live-action drill is a part of a China-Singapore joint exercise designated as Exercise Maritime Cooperation 2025. The exercise in its entirety was launched on Friday, starting with a port exchange phase, according to a statement from the PLA Navy at the time.

The drill will feature training courses such as navigating through mine-threatened waters, naval gunfire exercises against maritime targets, joint search and rescue operations, and medical evacuation procedures, aiming to evaluate the outcomes of the planning and scheme discussions conducted during the port phase, according to China Bugle.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that both sides deployed mine countermeasure vessels for the drill, which are capable of hunting and sweeping sea mines as well as navigating vessel formations through mine-threatened waters. This setup is likely because of Singapore is located by the Strait of Malacca, which is strategically important as it is commercially busy but could be blocked by sea mines.

The drill features courses on these subjects, showing that the exercise is beneficial to the international community and aims to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region, Zhang said.

Ahead of Exercise Maritime Cooperation 2025, the two PLA Navy warships participated in the International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX) Asia 2025, which kicked off at the Changi Exhibition Center in Singapore on May 6, which Chinese experts said showcased China's defense capabilities and enhanced trust and friendship with regional countries.