'Maneuver – 5' is Chinese Navy's first real taste of open-sea combat drill

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'Maneuver – 5' is Chinese Navy's first real taste of open-sea combat drill

(People's Daily Online) 09:03, November 08, 2013

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"This is the first real taste of open-sea combat drill for the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLAN)", Rear Admiral Liao Shining, executive director of the "Maneuver - 5" live military exercise, and deputy chief of staff of the PLAN, told the media in an interview.

From late October to early November, China's three naval fleets engaged in their first ever live military exercise codenamed "Maneuver - 5" in the waters of the West Pacific Ocean. As an important event aiming to test the practical fighting ability and open-sea flexible fighting ability of the Chinese navy, this military exercise allowed the navy to display its firm determination to defend our sovereignty and safeguard our marine rights and interests.

Even before the exercise ended, Liao Shining was able to offer a comprehensive summary of the exercise. He said that Chinese navy would continue to organize similar open-sea exercises in the future.

When asked what were the objectives of this exercise, Liao Shining said that although it was a routine operation, it had wide-reaching and profound significance for the navy's development strategy and military drills. First, "Maneuver - 5" planned the navy's routes, patrol areas and combat methods from a general perspective of the overall requirements of marine safety and the demands placed on the navy, thus displaying its firm determination to defend our sovereignty and safeguard our marine rights and interests.

As an open-sea drill applying extensive use of information technology, this exercise also marked an important change in the nature of naval exercises. "Maneuver - 5" placed its emphasis on open-sea maneuvers and the application of information technology. It is, so to speak, not only the first real sense of open-sea combative drill of Chinese navy, but also an important practice of open-sea drills under the condition of information technology.

On the significance of the actual-combat format of the drills and exercises, Liao Shining said that in contrast with previous exercises, this exercise borne significant fruits and offered important lessons.

The actual-combat format was core to the "Maneuver - 5" military exercise. The performance of equipment, naval ratings, and officers was tested and tempered to the maximum. Problems were identified, analyzed and resolved.

Liao Shining also said, this practical open-sea exercise in the form of actual-combat drills applying information technology has not only allowed us to accumulate worthwhile experience, but also to achieve some significant results. It can be used as a guide and reference for future naval combat drills.

（Editor：YanMeng、Zhang Qian）