China, Thailand Begin Joint Naval Exercise Blue Strike-2025 in Guangdong

China and Thailand have commenced their sixth joint naval exercise, Blue Strike-2025, in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, running from late March to early April. The exercises focus on urban counter-terrorism tactics, joint maritime strike operations, and anti-submarine warfare, aiming to enhance practical cooperation and joint operational capabilities between the two nations' navies. This training is seen as a significant step towards improving interoperability and contributing to regional peace and stability. The previous iteration of this series was held in September 2023 in Thailand. Experts believe these exercises are crucial for fostering collaboration between China and ASEAN member states in various security domains, including anti-piracy and humanitarian aid. The ongoing drills will continue until April 2.