The drills will start on Friday in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman, China’s defence ministry said today. China will send the Xining, a guided missile destroyer, to the drills, which will last until Monday. They are meant to deepen cooperation between the three countries’ navies, ministry spokesman Wu Qian told a monthly news briefing.
The drill will be a “normal military exchange” between the three armed forces and was in line with international law and practices, Mr Qian added.
He said: “It is not necessarily connected with the regional situation.”
The Gulf of Oman connects to the Strait of Hormuz, where about a fifth of the world’s oil passes through.
This in turn connects to the Gulf.
The drills are also coming amid tensions between the US and Iran.
Tensions have increased since last year when US President Donald Trump pulled the States out of Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with six nations.
He also re-imposed sanctions on the country, which crippled its economy.
Washington has proposed a US-led naval mission after several attacks in May and June on international merchant vessels.
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The Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman are key areas for international trade.
Maintaining security in the waterways is an important task, according to Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi. spokesman for Iran’s armed forces
According to the official IRNA news agency, he said: “This drill will take place for supporting and increasing experience in the security of international trade in the region.”
China has close diplomatic, trade and energy ties with Iran.
But China also has good relations with Iran’s regional rival Saudi Arabia.
This means it has had to tread a fine line in a part of the world where it has traditionally has far less sway than the US, Russia, France or Britain.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to visit Saudi Arabia next year as it is the host of the 2020 G20 summit.