A pair of Chinese warships entered the Baltic Sea, escorted by NATO vessels, as they made their way to St. Petersburg for Russia’s Navy Day celebrations.
The Danish patrol boat led the Chinese destroyer Jiaozuo and the fleet oiler Honghu past Denmark’s Baltic islands, capturing the moment on a live bridge camera.
Journey Through NATO Lake
Ship spotters observed the Chinese warships as they sailed under Denmark’s Great Belt Bridge, deeper into the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is often referred to as “NATO Lake.” This is after Finland and Sweden joined the alliance and became the stage for this significant naval movement.
A Chinese warship docked on bay. (StefanTsingtauer / Wikimedia Commons)
The Jiaozuo, a Type 052D guided-missile destroyer, and the Honghu, a Type 903A replenishment ship, are part of China’s South Sea Fleet, normally stationed in the South China Sea. NATO classifies these ships as Luyang III and Fuchi, respectively. Despite the noteworthy escort, neither NATO’s Allied Maritime Command nor the Danish Navy commented on the encounter.
China’s 46th Naval Escort Task Force
The two-ship flotilla is part of China’s 46th naval escort task force, which has contributed to counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa since 2008. The Chinese ships were detected leaving the Mediterranean and entering the North Atlantic last week. The Chinese Defense Ministry confirmed they concluded a five-day port call in Casablanca, Morocco, on July 14.
The destroyer Anshan. Built by the Soviet Union and turned over to China in 1995. (Tiger / Wikimedia Commons)
The Jiaozuo and Honghu continued their journey past NATO’s sea borders and the Russian Baltic Fleet headquarters in Kaliningrad, heading toward St. Petersburg. Russia’s annual Navy Day celebrations, held on the last Sunday of July, see President Vladimir Putin and top military officials review a naval parade from Kronstadt island.
Changes in Navy Day Celebrations
China first sent ships to St. Petersburg in 2017, and in 2019, one of its destroyers participated in the celebrations. This ongoing presence underscores the growing strategic alignment and military cooperation between China and Russia.
Recent Joint Naval Exercises
Russia’s Pacific Fleet, based in the Sea of Japan, reported that one of its frigates recently completed a 15-day joint naval exercise.
This was with a group of Chinese warships in the South China Sea. This exercise involved a 4,800-nautical mile journey, highlighting the strengthening military ties between the two nations.
Conclusion
The presence of Chinese navy ships in the Baltic Sea, escorted by NATO vessels, reflects the complex and evolving dynamics of international naval operations.
