The Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) are undertaking naval special operations joint training as part of Exercise “Blue Sword-2023.”

More than 100 participants from both navies are training together at a camp in Zhanjiang in South China’s Guangdong Province. The three-week long training exercises, conclude at the end of October.

The two navies are training together on overseas maritime counter-terrorism operations which is divided into basic training, specialized training, and a comprehensive exercise.

The training will end with a comprehensive maritime assault exercise and joint rescue exercise centring on the joint rescue of hijacked merchant ships by PLAN, RSNF special operations personnel.

Blue Sword-2019, the first edition of the exercise series was held in Saudi Arabia in 2019.