In mid-July, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and the Pakistan Navy (PN) held the “Sea Guardians-2” exercise in the waters off Shanghai (China Brief, October 4; Pakistan Television, July 12). The joint naval drills focused on neutralizing maritime security threats, particularly those that might jeopardize strategic sea lanes. The bilateral exercise also included joint target practice, anti-submarine, anti-aircraft and anti-missile drills (China Military Online [CMO], July 13). The drills built on the first iteration of the exercise, Sea Guardians-1, which was held in January 2020 in the North Arabian Sea off Karachi, Pakistan. The participation in these exercises of the guided missile frigate Taimur, which is the most advanced warship built by China for the PN, demonstrates the increasing level of Chinese support for the training and modernization of Pakistan’s naval forces (Global Times, July 10).
Turkey holds official welding ceremony of third MILGEM corvette for Pakistani Navy Turkey holds official welding ceremony of third MILGEM corvette for Pakistani Navy Sunday, 24 January 2021 17:46
On January 23, 2021, Turkey has held the official welding ceremony of the third MILGEM class corvette for the Pakistani Navy at Istanbul Naval Shipyard (INSY), Turkey. The event was attended by the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the Ambassador of Pakistan to Turkey H.E Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi.
The official welding ceremony of the third MILGEM corvette for the Pakistani Navy was held in Turkey on January 23, 2021. (Picture source Twitter Ali Keskin)