China, Thailand begin Blue Strike joint naval training

This is the fifth joint training of Blue Strike since its inception in 2010.

During Blue Strike 2023, personnel from both countries will undertake sniping tactics, jungle survival, maritime search and rescue, urban warfare, chemical defence, light weapons shooting, armoured tactics, joint anti-submarine operations, and cross-deck helicopter landing to improve coordination, enhance military cooperation and joint efforts to address regional security threats.

The Chinese naval task force includes the Type 71 “Simingshan” amphibious dock landing ship, guided-missile frigate “Anyang”, supply ship “Chaohu”, a Marine Corps element, and a shipboard helicopter element.

The PRC Foreign Ministry has also announced Indo-Pacific plans for the naval training ship Qi Jiguang to visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji during midshipmen ocean-going training mission this month and continuing into late October.

The training ship program is hoped to strengthen maritime practical cooperation, mutual trust with the countries visited, improve the operational adaptability and capability of Chinese naval officer cadets, and help build the maritime community.

Robert Dougherty

Robert is a senior journalist who has previously worked for Seven West Media in Western Australia, as well as Fairfax Media and Australian Community Media in New South Wales. He has produced national headlines, photography and videography of emergency services, business, community, defence and government news across Australia. Robert graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Public Relations and Journalism at Curtin University, attended student exchange program with Fudan University and holds Tier 1 General Advice certification for Kaplan Professional. Reach out via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via LinkedIn.