Chinese naval guided missile frigate Xiangfan yesterday arrived
at Singapore's Changi Naval Base for a multilateral marine drill
off Singapore waters as well as this year's International Maritime
Defense Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX).
It is the first time the Chinese Navy has dispatched a ship to
participate in the drill, which is held under the framework of the
Western Pacific Naval Symposium.
Fifteen ships from other 12 countries, including the United
States, France, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and India, will take
part in the drill.
The Xiangfan will take part in four exercises: defending against
attacks from light vessels, passing through mined waters, carrying
out a maritime rescue and firing at targets at sea.
Since its launch in Singapore in 1997, the IMDEX ASIA Series has
become a leading international maritime defense show serving the
Asia Pacific Region.
The Western Pacific Navel Symposium aims to increase naval
cooperation in the Western Pacific among navies by providing a
forum for discussion of maritime issues, both global and regional,
and in the process generating a flow of information and opinion
between naval professionals leading to common understanding and
agreements.
(Shanghai Daily May 15, 2007)