The Sino-Russian Joint Maritime-2021 exercise and the first joint maritime cruise came to an end on October 23, the largest maritime exercise within the bilateral framework between China and Russia, and has been held 10 times since 2012. On the morning of October 23, local time, this reporter interviewed the Chinese director of the joint military exercise and deputy commander of Rear Admiral Bai Yaoping of the Northern Theater Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
Reporter: As a Chinese director, how do you evaluate the overall effectiveness of the Sino-Russian "Maritime Alliance-2021"?
Bai Yaoping: The successful holding of the China-Russia "Maritime Joint-2021" military exercise fully reflects the high degree of strategic mutual trust between the two countries, the solid traditional friendship between the two militaries, and the high-level joint capability at sea, marking that the joint ability of the Chinese and Russian navies to jointly deal with maritime security threats has reached an unprecedented new height.
This is a Chinese-Russian ship formation that is in the process of being rehearsed. Photo by Li Tang
Reporter: What are the characteristics of this exercise?
Bai Yaoping: Compared with the past, this mission has three distinctive characteristics: First, it is efficient, affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the two sides do not open exercise command bodies such as the joint director's department and joint command headquarters on the shore, and the Chinese troops participating in the exercise are directly rushed to the exercise site without assembling and preparing; second, in actual combat, temporary docking and full-mission command are more in line with the reality of naval force command and application; third, the breakthrough is to organize aviation aircraft to participate in the exercise before passing through Russia. For the first time, the Type 055 destroyer and other multi-type equipment were organized to go abroad to participate in the joint exercise, especially the joint formation of ships of the two sides formed a joint formation to carry out joint cruise at sea for the first time, which created a new model of joint operation between the Chinese and Russian navies.
Reporter: What is the significance of the first joint maritime cruise organized by China and Russia?
Bai Yaoping: This year, after the end of the "Maritime Joint-2021" military exercise, China and Russia have continued to organize the first joint maritime cruise, which is of great significance. The first is to further consolidate and develop the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between China and Russia in the new era and deepen the friendly and pragmatic cooperation between the two militaries; the second is to further enhance the ability of the two navies to conduct joint operations in the far seas and enhance strategic mutual trust; the third is to explore the establishment of a normalized joint cruise organization and consultation mechanism to further improve the level of organization and command of joint cruise operations at sea; and the fourth is to further enhance the ability of the Navies of China and Russia to jointly deal with maritime security threats.
This is the Navy's 101 ship formation in a joint maneuver. Photo by Wang You
Reporter: What is the biggest gain of the Chinese Navy in this joint exercise and the first joint maritime cruise?
Bai Yaoping: In the course of the mission, the Chinese and Russian navies have always grasped the positioning of "China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era" and implemented it into specific actions. First, through jointly organizing exercises, we have further enhanced the Navy's ability to conduct joint operations on the far seas and respond to maritime security threats; second, we have further optimized the organizational and implementation methods of the Sino-Russian joint maritime exercise, explored and established an organization and consultation mechanism for normalized joint cruises, and provided strong support for the subsequent improvement of the organizational command level of joint maritime cruise operations; moreover, we have jointly planned exercises and participated in exercises with the Russian side, exchanged and learned from The Russian side's good experience and achievements and training methods and tactics, and continuously improved the Chinese Navy's actual combat capabilities in the far seas. Promote the strategic transformation and development of china's navy.
Reporter: What is the significance of the Sino-Russian joint exercise for the Chinese Navy in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests?
Bai Yaoping: The Sino-Russian maritime joint exercise is strategically strong and has attracted much attention. Through the Sino-Russian joint military exercise, further strengthening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era, jointly coping with threats and challenges, and creating a strategic environment conducive to national security and development are the special missions and great significance entrusted by the current strategic situation to the Sino-Russian joint exercise.
This is the Navy's Nanchang warship maneuvering in navigation. Photo by Wang You