China and Singapore Launch Joint Maritime Exercise in Zhanjiang

China and Singapore commenced their bilateral naval exercise, Exercise Maritime Cooperation-2026, at a naval port in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, on September 5. The fifth iteration of the bilateral naval series brings together the People's Liberation Army Navy guided-missile frigate Dali and the Republic of Singapore Navy frigate RSS Steadfast. Divided into harbor and maritime phases, the exercise includes professional technical workshops on diving and submarine rescue, followed by live-at-sea training in communications, replenishment, joint maritime strike, and search-and-rescue operations.

The continuation of the Exercise Maritime Cooperation series underscores persistent bilateral defense engagement between Beijing and Southeast Asian partners despite wider regional maritime friction. By sustaining structured, recurring naval exercises, both nations aim to maintain operational familiarity and dialogue channels. Including technical focus areas such as underwater medicine and submarine search and rescue highlights functional cooperation in non-combat support and maritime safety, which serves as a lower-friction baseline for regional security interaction.

The navies of China and Singapore officially opened their bilateral drill, Exercise Maritime Cooperation-2026, at a naval port in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, on September 5, according to reports from Xinhua and the PLA Daily. The exercise marks the fifth iteration of the bilateral maritime series between the two countries. Personnel from both services gathered at the port for an opening ceremony inaugurating the event, which is being conducted in the airspace and waters adjacent to Zhanjiang. Each navy deployed a single surface combatant for the joint drill. The People's Liberation Army Navy dispatched the guided-missile frigate Dali, while the Republic of Singapore Navy committed the Formidable-class frigate RSS Steadfast. According to Chinese military reporting, the exercise is structured into two main phases: a harbor phase followed by an operational sea phase. Prior to the formal opening, delegations held high-level meetings and operational planning seminars on September 4, alongside social deck receptions. During the remainder of the harbor phase, personnel from both navies are scheduled to conduct specialized technical exchanges covering diving operations, submarine search and rescue, and underwater medicine. The maritime phase is scheduled to begin on September 8. Planned serials at sea will include communication drills, underway replenishment, joint maritime strike exercises, and joint search-and-rescue maneuvers. Chinese official coverage described the interactions as reflecting an in-depth trajectory in bilateral naval ties, emphasizing mutual trust and pragmatic defense cooperation. The selection of Zhanjiang, a key operational hub for the PLA Navy's South Sea Fleet, offers a controlled setting for maritime safety drills while reinforcing Beijing's military diplomacy across Southeast Asia.