Chinese PLA Navy embraces International Army Games 2021

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy is ready for four competitions on sea and land in different locations during the seventh International Army Games, which officially kicks off on Monday in 11 countries including Russia, China, and Iran.

Some 50 members of the PLA Navy Marine Corps are in Russia’s Vladivostok for the “Seaborne Assault” competition. They will compete with troops from Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and other countries in obstacle course, survival trail and relay events.

PLA Navy ship Guangyuan, a new-generation corvette, will participate in the “Sea Cup” competition in Vladivostok in events like primary gun firing at sea and eliminating floating mines with auxiliary guns.

The “Depth” competition for military divers and “Clear Sky” competition for air defense units will be held in Iran’s Konarak port and Korla Land Forces training ground in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, respectively.

PLA Navy teams in different locations have had adaptive training with special attention to prevention and control of coronavirus infection based on the requirements of the Games.

“It will achieve overall benefits in military communications and training in live-fire army games and exercises,” said captain Cai Cen from the Training Bureau of the PLA Navy General Staff.

“It will also have useful experiences in organizing and participating in multilateral military competitions under the regular epidemic prevention and control,” he said.

The Chinese Navy has been actively participating in the International Army Games organized by the Russian Defense Ministry in recent years. It once hosted the “Seaborne Assault” competition in 2018 in Quanzhou, southeast China’s Fujian Province.

(Cover photo: PLA Navy trains for the “Seaborne Assault” competition in Russia’s Vladivostok. Xiao Yongli/PLA Navy)