Chinese naval destroyer Baotou launches drill to sharpen collaborative combat capabilities

The guided-missile destroyer Baotou (Hull 133) of the 47th Chinese naval escort taskforce recently conducted multi-subject simulation training to hone the crew's emergency response and coordinated combat capabilities.

Among the officers participating in the drill was Han Yingqiu. In his view, a military drill demands the same level of focus and meticulousness as actual combat.

"For us in the main gun crew, the moment one firing ends is the start of the next. The work in between is continuous -- it's all about checking and maintaining the gun," said Han. When asked whether crews would take a short break after completing a firing sequence, he replied, "No. We won't let up a bit."

This was not Han's first time playing a critical role in a military exercise. In February 2025, as the main gunner of the Baotou, he took part in a multinational exercise code-named "Peace-2025" in Pakistan.

During the final event of the joint drill -- a live-fire training -- the Baotou was the third to engage. With the two preceding ships having missed their targets, the attention of all participating naval personnel turned to the Chinese destroyer.

"We were operating in these waters, with two foreign warships ahead of us. The target on our display was only about the size of a ping-pong ball. We had to keep it locked the whole time," said Han.

The 130mm main gun serves as a primary strike weapon of the Type 052D destroyer, which was designed for naval engagement and gunfire support. Firing at sea presents considerable challenges, as shell trajectories are significantly affected by temperature, wind direction, and wind speed. Moreover, the requirement to shoot while moving added another layer of difficulty.

Reflecting on that joint exercise, he admitted feeling considerable pressure at the time. Yet, relying on muscle memory developed through long-term training and what he describes as "man and cannon as one," Han Yingqiu maintained his composure and accurately struck the target.

Such solid expertise and adaptability not only contributed to the success of this joint exercise but also laid a robust foundation for subsequent drills and potential real combat operations in the future for the Chinese Navy.

The U.S. dollar increased in late trading on Thursday.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, went up 0.38 percent to 100.024 at 1900 GMT.

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The U.S. dollar bought 159.34 Japanese yen, higher than 158.82 Japanese yen of the previous session. The U.S. dollar was up to 0.7984 Swiss francs from 0.7931 Swiss francs, and it rose to 1.3921 Canadian dollars from 1.3895 Canadian dollars. The U.S. dollar added to 9.4234 Swedish kronor from 9.3935 Swedish kronor.