The Chinese and Thai navies conducted an anti-terrorism drill on Saturday and Sunday as part of the ongoing "Blue Strike-2025" joint naval training in Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province.
The exercise, which began on Wednesday, marks the sixth edition of their joint training program. It aims to deepen bilateral cooperation and enhance combined operational capabilities.
During the joint anti-terrorism exercise, Chinese and Thai marines coordinated closely to carry out their operations. After landing via air-cushioned craft and helicopters, they quickly assembled into a counter-terrorism unit and conducted a series of drill tasks, including building seizures, room clearing, securing ammunition supplies, and providing humanitarian assistance.
To overcome the language barrier and improve coordination, the marines communicated in advance and agreed to use hand gestures during the drill to ensure smooth execution.
"The biggest challenge for the special forces from both sides during the mixed-team fast-roping training was the language barrier. Before the training began, we communicated with our Thai counterparts and agreed to use tactical hand gestures during the training. This use of hand gestures effectively improved tactical coordination and collaboration between the two sides," said Zhao Guodong, a Chinese marine.
The exercise was designed to simulate counter-terrorism operations in specific regions. During the drill, Chinese and Thai marines worked together to eliminate the remaining members of a simulated terrorist group. The exercise helped improve their ability to conduct joint operations, particularly in coastal areas.
"By conducting comprehensive preparatory work, such as defining the operational scenario, formulating drill plans, exchanging tactical and technical insights, performing map drills, conducting pre-training, and inspecting equipment, the Chinese and Thai joint forces executed high-quality maritime training. This collaboration strengthened our tactical integration, enhanced command capabilities, and tested operational systems, building valuable experience for real-world emergency responses and maritime security operations," said Li Yabing, a Chinese marine.
Chinese, Thai navies conduct joint anti-terrorism drill
Foreign diplomats and scholars are looking closely at this year's "two sessions", saying China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) will not only chart the nation's economic and technological priorities but also reshape global value chains.
The fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the nation's top political advisory body, opened on Wednesday, followed by the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Thursday. Together known as the "two sessions," these meetings offer a comprehensive view into China's development priorities.
Global observers emphasized that the 15th Five-Year Plan, a blueprint guiding the nation's economic, social, and technological priorities over the next five years, marks a decisive shift toward high‑quality growth anchored in advanced technologies, with ripple effects across the world.
"The two sessions will discuss China's five-year plan, which is heavily oriented toward China's major technological development. I believe this is important because it represents the new blueprint for China's economy, which is now oriented toward the renowned high-quality development, and this will undoubtedly impact the entire world. I think it is worth studying. This is very important for Latin America. It will help us integrate more intelligently into global value chains and into all aspects of the major development that China is promoting in iconic industrial sectors, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and space development, where Latin America also has much to contribute beyond just commercial growth," said Gustavo Sabino Vaca Narvaja, former Argentine Ambassador to China.
"The two sessions are a major political milestone in China, and this year's gathering carries even greater significance as this year marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan. This plan represents not only a blueprint for China, but also a guide for other countries. Instruments like the five-year plan effectively provide greater certainty and predictability for the rest of the world," said Chilean scholar of international relations Ignacio Araya Heredia.
"This is a particularly important date, especially due to the fact that the next Five-Year Plan shall be positioned and we're going to see what its main elements shall be. Serbia, which has a very high degree of steel friendship with the People's Republic of China, can expect further assistance in identifying the most prominent areas of Serbian economy and being helped by its great partner, such as it has been done in the previous period, from one part with establishing the main infrastructure projects, but also reshaping the industrial sector of Serbia, not just Serbia, but the region as a whole," said Veljko Mijuskovic, assistant professor of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Belgrade.
Beyond the policy framework, experts also pointed to China's achievements in green energy and technological innovation as models worth emulating.
Tomasz Bielinski, adjunct professor at the University of Gdansk's Faculty of Economics, said the robotics displays at the 2026 China Media Group (CMG) Spring Festival Gala reflected China's broader push in technological innovation.
"I was really impressed about the robotics. I'm very impressed with Chinese development in the technological field, we can still make great deals with Chinese businessmen and we can cooperate together to use this technology for both the good of China and the European Union. I'm aware of the innovation especially in autonomous drive on the on the Chinese side," he said.
"We hope for more of China's economic cooperation, especially in trade and also in investment. Also, and the other focus, if I talk about the focus of the development, don't forget about the green energy. We know that China is great in the electric vehicle field. So because China's electric vehicles in Indonesia nowadays, since couple of years ago, are very, very popular," said Al Busyra Basnur, president of the Indonesia-China Friendship Association.
Observers see China's new five-year plan driving high-quality development, global tech shifts
