Yesterday (17th), the ship formation composed of the Meishan and Xiushan ships of the China Coast Guard successfully completed the 2024 joint exercise and patrol activities of the Chinese and Russian coast guards, and successfully returned to Zhoushan.
On the morning of the 17th, the Meishan and Xiushan warships of the coast guard docked at the pier in turn, and the Second Bureau directly under the China Coast Guard held a grand welcome ceremony at the wharf to welcome the triumph of the formation. In this activity, the China Coast Guard formation set sail from Zhoushan on September 13, entered the Arctic Ocean through the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk, the Bering Sea and the Chukchi Sea, and returned to Zhoushan on October 17, lasting 35 days, sailing more than 1,200 hours and a total voyage of more than 17,000 nautical miles. During this period, the Chinese and Russian coast guards jointly held a series of activities such as ship open days, deck receptions, cultural and sports exchanges, and carried out joint search for ships, interception and boarding of suspected criminal vessels, rescue of people overboard and ships on fire in the waters near Peter the Great Bay of Russia, testing the ability of the two sides to jointly respond to maritime security risks.
Feng Mingming, Captain of the Meishan Ship of the China Coast Guard: We have actively expanded the connotation of rights protection and law enforcement missions, continuously tempered the formation's ability to carry out diversified tasks, and fully demonstrated the good image of the China Coast Guard as confident, open and professional.
On September 21, the China Coast Guard entered the stage of joint patrol, and the ships of the two sides cooperated tacitly and efficiently to form a formation for the first time to enter the North Pacific high seas joint patrol, carry out inspection and supervision of operating vessels in accordance with the law, and actively maintain the order of fishery production in the high seas of the North Pacific. During this period, the two sides also jointly completed joint search and rescue exercises, joint damage management and life-saving, and joint search for illegal vessels.
He Feng, Commander of the China Coast Guard Ship Formation: This mission is of great significance for consolidating and developing the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era, deepening mutual trust and cooperation between the two coast guards, and maintaining security and stability in the North Pacific Ocean. In the next step, the CCG will pragmatically carry out bilateral and multilateral maritime law enforcement cooperation, actively participate in international and regional maritime governance, effectively fulfill its international obligations, and demonstrate its responsibility as a major country.
For the first time, the China Coast Guard sent a capital ship into the waters of the Arctic Ocean
So this time, which lasted 35 days, sailed for more than 1,200 hours, and traveled a total of more than 17,000 nautical miles, the Sino-Russian coast guard joint exercise and patrol activities, why did the Chinese coast guard send the Meishan and Xiushan ships? What does it mean for a Chinese coast guard ship to enter the waters of the Arctic Ocean for the first time?
The reporter learned that the coast guard chose to send the Meishan and Xiushan ships, both of which are subordinate to the second bureau directly under the China Coast Guard, and the two ships are 3,000 tons, which can sail in 9 sea conditions except for the polar area and ice area, and can resist 12 winds. The two ships can sail continuously for a month if they are fully replenished.
Yang Xiao, marine expert of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations: The 3,000-ton ships of Meishan and Xiushan are not only the main ships of China (Coast Guard), but also the usual ships of the general scale of the International Coast Guard.
It is worth noting that this joint patrol between China and Russia is the first time in history, and it is also the first time that a Chinese coast guard ship formation has entered the waters of the Arctic Ocean, which not only effectively expands the coast guard's ocean-going navigation range, but also comprehensively tests the coast guard's ability to carry out tasks in unfamiliar waters.
Chen Xiangmiao, researcher at Huayang Marine Research Center: This time with Russia in the Arctic Ocean, including joint patrols around the Arctic shipping lanes, I think the first one is a breakthrough in the sea area, the sea conditions in this sea area are still relatively special, China as an observer of the Arctic Council, then in fact, Russia, as a joint patrol between the two coastal countries, is also a very important attempt for the management of the Arctic shipping lane, which has great potential in the future.
Building a "community with a shared future for the ocean" demonstrates the responsibility of the coast guard of major countries
In recent years, China has actively implemented the relevant resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and the relevant provisions of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Fishery Resources in the High Seas of the North Pacific. Let's find out.
Yang Xiao, marine expert at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations: Law enforcement cooperation at sea is itself a constructive act to maintain regional peace and stability. This kind of maritime law enforcement cooperation between China and Russia (Coast Guard) is actually a kind of example for other countries, that is, to carry out maritime law enforcement cooperation in a friendly and constructive manner, and to make constructive contributions to regional peace and stability through maritime law enforcement cooperation.
According to the reporter's combing of the public reports of the China Coast Guard, in 2024, the China Coast Guard is committed to strengthening the standardization of maritime law enforcement, revising and issuing the guidance catalogue ("Guiding Catalogue of Maritime Administrative Law Enforcement Matters of Coast Guard Agencies (2024 Edition)"), and formulating regulations on administrative law enforcement procedures ("Provisions on Administrative Law Enforcement Procedures of Coast Guard Agencies"). At the same time, it has held 11 working-level talks and high-level meetings with Cambodia, Korea, Peru and other countries, and two international exercises, strengthening bilateral maritime law enforcement cooperation. In terms of protecting fishery resources, the China Coast Guard, together with other departments, has deployed and implemented a special law enforcement operation for the off-season fishing moratorium, and successfully completed the law enforcement patrol mission on the high seas of the North Pacific Ocean.
Yang Xiao, marine expert at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations: Over the years, especially the governance we have taken such as the moratorium on fishing in the summer season, the maintenance of marine traffic and the control of marine spillage accidents, including the destruction of the marine environment, the dumping of waste and wastewater, etc., we have safeguarded our maritime rights and interests in accordance with laws and regulations, and more importantly, we have led our neighboring countries and other global partners to maintain the marine ecological environment, jointly develop marine resources and energy, and form a community with a shared future for the ocean. (According to CCTV news client)