Singaporean Formidable-class RSS Stalwart sails during a multinational maritime exercise in the Pacific. (Wikimedia)
The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) have commenced their 5th bilateral Exercise Maritime Cooperation (XMC) in Zhanjiang, China, as the two countries continue naval training and professional exchanges from September 5 to 9.
The exercise involves Singapore’s Formidable-class frigate RSS Steadfast and China’s Type 054A frigate PLANS Dali. It is divided into a shore phase at Ma Xie Naval Base from September 5 to 7, followed by maritime drills in waters off Zhanjiang from September 8 to 9.
During the shore phase, personnel from both navies will participate in exercise planning and professional exchanges. The sea phase will include sea-rider exchanges, gunnery firings, communications and manoeuvring exercises, as well as joint search-and-rescue and medical evacuation drills.
The opening ceremony was co-officiated by RSN Deputy Fleet Commander Colonel Ng Yen Meng and PLA Navy Southern Theatre Command Deputy Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Xia Ziming at Ma Xie Naval Base. Singapore’s Ministry of Defence said participation in the exercises supports mutual learning, understanding and cooperation with a wide network of international partners.
China and Singapore first held Exercise Maritime Cooperation in 2015 and have since established a routine arrangement of alternating hosts. The Chinese Ministry of National Defence said the scale of the exercises has grown over successive editions.
The exercise comes at the end of RSS Steadfast’s three-month deployment, during which the frigate participated in several bilateral and multinational engagements. These included exercises with the Italian Navy, Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force and other regional and international navies, including RIMPAC 2026.
XMC provides Singapore and China with a regular channel for practical naval engagement, including communications, maritime safety and coordinated emergency response. For Singapore, maintaining this channel alongside defence exercises with other partners allows it to sustain diversified military relationships. The bilateral exercise also gives both states a mechanism for building operational familiarity while keeping cooperation focused on practical naval activities.
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