By Guo Yuandan
郭媛丹
This photo shows the formation of Chinese and Russian military aircraft participating in the second China-Russia joint air strategic patrol in late November, 2024. (Photo by Sun Liren)
11月底，中俄组织完成本年度第二次联合空中战略巡航任务。图为参加此次巡航的中俄两军战机编队。(孙立人摄)
Military diplomacy serves as a crucial means to safeguard world peace and foster cooperation on global security. In 2024, amidst the ongoing evolution of the global landscape, the Chinese military has engaged in military exchanges and cooperation, including reciprocal visits, joint exercises, training, and patrols, with a more open and inclusive approach towards various nations. Many experts have identified three features of China's military diplomacy for the year.
军事外交是维护国际和平、促进国际安全合作的重要桥梁。2024年，全球格局持续演变，中国军队以更加开放包容姿态，与各国开展军事互访、联演联训联巡等军事交流合作。多位专家认为，2024年中国对外军事交往呈现出三大亮点。
Feature One: High-profile military diplomacy between major countries
亮点一：大国军事外交备受瞩目
When discussing China's military diplomacy in 2024, experts unanimously highlighted the development of China's military diplomacy with major countries such as Russia and the US as one of the most significant features.
多位专家在谈及2024年中国军事外交时不约而同地认为本年度中俄、中美等大国军事外交的发展是最值得关注的亮点之一。
Throughout 2024, there has been a flurry of high-level exchanges and joint training exercises between the Chinese and Russian militaries. In early to mid-July, the China-Russia "Exercise Joint Sea-2024" took place in the waters and airspace near Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province. Later, in late July and late November respectively, the two countries' air forces conducted joint air strategic patrols.
2024年，中俄两军高层互访、联演联巡等军事行动频繁。7月上中旬，中俄“海上联合-2024”联合演习在湛江附近海空域举行，7月下旬和11月下旬中俄两军先后组织了两次空中战略巡航。
Moreover, the Chinese and Russian coast guards carried out joint exercises and patrols, marking a historic first. This is the first time that the China Coast Guard (CCG) fleet has entered the Arctic Ocean, effectively extending the reach of maritime law enforcement and thoroughly testing the CCG's capabilities to perform tasks in unfamiliar waters.
此外，中俄海警举行了联演联巡行动。值得注意的是，此次中俄海警联合巡航是历史首次，同样也是中国海警舰艇编队首次进入北冰洋海域，这不仅有效拓展了海警远洋航行范围，也全面检验了海警舰艇在陌生海域遂行任务能力。
In 2024, the high-level military cooperation between China and Russia has continued to broaden and intensify across various dimensions. This reflects a high level of political, strategic, and military mutual trust, playing a notable positive role in maintaining the healthy development of China-Russia relations, deterring and countering military coercion by major powers, adapting to current security challenges and demands, and upholding peace and stability in the region.
2024年中俄高水平军事合作在多个维度继续扩展和深化。这体现出高度的政治互信、战略互信、军事互信，对保持中俄关系健康发展、震慑和反制大国军事胁迫、适应当前安全形势和需求、维护区域内和平与稳定发挥了显著的正向作用。
In contrast, China-US relations are still full of twists and turns. In 2024, however, the Chinese and US militaries have sustained dialogue and communication. On May 31, Chinese Minister of National Defense Admiral Dong Jun and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin held their inaugural in-person meeting in Singapore during the Shangri-La Dialogue; the 17th and 18th Defense Policy Coordination Talks took place in January and September respectively; two China-US Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA) Working Group meetings were convened in April and November; and in September, a theater-level commandertalk was held between the Chinese and US militaries. It is evident that in 2024, the Chinese and US militaries have fully and orderly resumed communication and exchange mechanisms at all levels, addressing a wide array of topics from defense policy to theater force operations. This demonstrates the shared desire of both militaries to maintain interactions and cooperation despite the complexities.
相较而言，中美关系依旧充满曲折，但2024年中美两军保持了对话与沟通的态势。5月31日，中国国防部部长董军与美国国防部部长奥斯汀于香格里拉对话会期间在新加坡举行首次线下会晤；在1月和9月分别举行了第17次和第18次国防部工作会晤；在4月和11月举行两次2024年度中美海上军事安全磋商机制工作小组会；9月中美两军举行战区领导通话。不难看出，2024年中美两军各层级沟通交流机制全面有序恢复，覆盖了从防务政策到战区部队行动的广泛议题。这显示了中美两军在曲折中仍致力于保持交往和合作的共同意愿。
Beyond the cooperation and dialogue with Russia and the US, China held defense strategy consultations with France and the UK on June 27 and September 25 respectively, discussed the advancement of bilateral defense relations and engaged in in-depth exchanges on international and regional security issues of mutual concern, further enhancing mutual understanding and trust. Additionally, in March, the China-EU defense and security policy dialogue and the China-NATO security policy dialogue were successively held in Beijing.
除了中俄、中美之间的合作对话，中法、中英之间分别在今年6月27日和9月25日举行了防务战略磋商，双方就发展双边防务关系进行商讨，围绕共同关心的国际和地区安全问题深入交换意见，增进了彼此了解和互信。此外，3月，中国-欧盟防务部门安全政策对话以及中国-北约安全政策对话相继在北京举行。
Feature Two: Unprecedented number of joint exercises and training with foreign militaries since the pandemic
亮点二：疫情以来，中外联演联训最多
In 2024, the Chinese military has not only made significant strides in military diplomacy with major countries but also been highly active in international military operations. As per the official reports on the Ministry of National Defense's website, China has engaged in over 20 joint exercises and training with foreign militaries this year, marking the most since the outbreak of the pandemic.
今年中国军队不仅在大国军事外交方面颇有成效，对外军事行动也非常活跃。根据国防部官网的公开报道，今年中国与其他国家军队进行的联演联训数量达到20余次。这是自疫情以来，中国军队和外军进行联演联训最多的一年。
In terms of the timeline, starting from the end of February with the Chinese forces' participation in the Cobra Gold 2024 Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise, to the China-Indonesia Peace (Heping) Garuda-2024 joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise conducted from December 1 to 7, the Chinese military's international joint training activities have extended throughout the year.
从时间线上而言，从2月底中方分队参加“金色眼镜蛇-2024”联演人道主义救援减灾实兵演练至12月1日-7日中印尼“和平神鹰-2024”联演的举行，中国军队涉外联合演训行动从年初延续到年底。
Regarding participating troops, all theater commands have contributed forces to these military actions. For instance, in the recently concluded Peace (Heping) Garuda-2024, the Chinese participants were dispatched by the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA); the China-Iran-Russia Security Bond-2024joint naval drills involved the 45th Chinese naval escort taskforcefrom the PLA Northern Theater Command; and the "Peace Unity-2024" joint exercise saw participation from the PLA Central Theater Command.
从参演兵力而言，各战区均派遣兵力参与了军事行动。比如刚刚举行的“和平神鹰-2024”联合演习，中方参演部队由解放军南部战区组派；中伊俄“安全纽带-2024”联合演习参演兵力是北部战区的第45批护航编队；“和平团结-2024”联合演习中方参演部队则来自中部战区。
In terms of the focus of these exercises, the majority of drills conducted by China with other nations have concentrated on non-traditional security domains, such as counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, humanitarian rescue and disaster relief. A case in point is the China-Laos "Peace Train-2024" joint humanitarian medical rescue exercise held in late November. Additionally, the Chinese and Nepalese armies conducted the Sagarmatha Friendship-2024 joint military training in late September, centered around "joint counter-terrorism operations in urban blocks".
从演习主要课目而言，中国与其他国家举行的演练大部分集中在非传统安全领域，如反恐、反海盗、人道主义救援和减灾等。比如11月下旬举行的中老“和平列车-2024”人道主义医学救援联合演习。中国与尼泊尔两国军队于9月下旬举行“珠峰友谊-2024”陆军联合训练，主题为“城市街区联合反恐行动”。
"The significant proportion of non-traditional security subjects in joint exercises and training with foreign militaries demonstrates China's role and responsibility as a major country committed to global peace and security. Through these cooperative efforts, China has contributed to addressing common security challenges, upholding global peace and stability, and fostering the development of a community with a shared future for mankind," commented Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert.
对此，张军社分析表示，“在与外军联演联训中，非传统安全课目占比较大，展现了中国作为负责任大国的责任和担当。通过这些合作，中国为共同应对安全挑战、维护世界和平稳定以及推动构建人类命运共同体做出了应有的贡献。”
Notably, this year's joint exercises and training between the Chinese military and foreign forces have also achieved breakthroughs. For example, from late July to mid-August, the Chinese military conducted the "Peace Unity-2024" joint exercise with the militaries of Tanzania and Mozambique, marking the first time China has organized an exercise involving both land and naval forces with African nations.
值得注意的是，今年中国军队和外军的联演联训也有一些新的突破点。比如，7月下旬至8月中旬，中国军队与坦桑尼亚、莫桑比克军队举行了“和平团结-2024”联合演习。这是中国与非洲国家之间首次组织陆、海两个军种同时参与的演习。
Feature Three: Diverse multilateral military exchange activities
亮点三：多边军事交流活动很丰富
In 2024, the Chinese military's external military exchange activities have yielded significant outcomes across various domains, including mutual ship visits, international military conferences, and peacekeeping missions. These activities have bolstered the operational capabilities and global reach of the Chinese military and have played a role in advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind as well as upholding global peace and stability.
2024年中国军队的对外军事交流活动在军舰互访问、国际军事会议以及维和行动等多个方面都取得了显著成果。这些活动不仅提升了中国军队的作战能力和国际影响力，还有助于推动构建人类命运共同体、维护世界和平与稳定。
On December 9, a Russian naval frigate fleet concluded a successful five-day goodwill visit to China's eastern port city of Qingdao, departing from a military port there. Besides, this year saw visits to China by the Indonesian Navy's sail training ship Kri Bima Suci and the Vietnamese Navy's missile frigate Tran Hung Dao.
12月9日，俄罗斯海军护卫舰编队圆满完成对青岛为期5天的友好访问，驶离青岛某军港。此外，今年印尼海军“毕玛苏吉”号风帆训练舰、越南海军“陈兴道”号导弹护卫舰分别访问中国。
Chinese naval vessels have also made numerous visits abroad. In early August, the guided-missile destroyer Jiaozuo (Hull 163) and the comprehensive supply ship Honghu (Hull 906)attached to the 46th Chinese naval escort taskforce visited Egypt. From late August to early December, the PLA Navy's first sailing training ship Po Langtraversed six maritime areas, including the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, Natuna Sea, Java Sea, and Andaman Sea, over the course of more than three months.
同时，中国海军也多次对他国进行访问，8月上旬，中国海军第46批护航编队焦作舰、洪湖舰访问埃及。8月下旬至12月上旬，人民海军首艘风帆训练舰破浪舰航经黄海、东海、南海、纳土纳海、爪哇海、安达曼海6个海区，历时3个多月。
Besides, from late August to early September, the Chinese PLA Air Force dispatched seven J-10 aerobatic aircraft and one Y-20 transport aircraft from the Bayi Aerobatic Team to participate in the Egypt International Airshow. As the Chinese military goes global, it also welcomes military representatives and scholars from around the world. A series of high-level military officer seminars and cadet exchange events have been held, such as the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, the International Symposium on SunTzu's Art of War, the Seminar on Security Situation in the Gulf of Guinea, the"Maritime Community with a Shared Future" Forum for Commandants of International Naval Colleges and Academies, and the Seminar for Senior Military Officers from China and Arab States, marking the most eventful year for multilateral military exchanges to date.
除了海军，8月下旬至9月上旬，中国空军派八一飞行表演队7架歼-10表演机、1架运-20飞机参加埃及航展。在中国军队走出去的同时，也请各国军队代表和专家学者走进来。北京香山论坛、西太平洋海军论坛、孙子兵法国际研讨会、几内亚湾安全形势专题研讨会、“海洋命运共同体”国际海军院校长论坛、中国-阿拉伯国家高级军官研讨班等高级军官研讨会以及学员交流活动轮番登场，是历年来多边交流活动最为丰富的一年。
Furthermore, the Chinese military has been actively advocating key concepts like the Global Security Initiative through practical actions. The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark on the "Mission Harmony-2024" visited 13 countries, offering medical services during its journey.
此外，中国军队还通过实际行动，积极阐释全球安全倡议等重大理念主张。执行“和谐使命-2024”任务的中国海军“和平方舟”号医院船此次赴13国访问并提供医疗服务。
China is a pivotal player in UN peacekeeping, contributing significantly to global efforts. Whether through the "Mission Harmony-2024" or other international peacekeeping operations undertaken by Chinese forces, these missions can help recipient countries enhance their defensive and governance capacities. The Chinese military has consistently demonstrated China's commitment to global security, underscoring its role as a crucial force in advancing world peace.
中国是联合国维和的一支关键力量，发挥着弥足珍贵的作用。无论是‘和谐使命-2024’，还是中国维和部队执行的国际维和任务，都有助于相关国家提高自身的防御能力和治理能力。中国军队一再用行动证明中国对国际社会安全的承诺，彰显出中国是推动世界和平的重要力量。
Editor's note: Originally published on huanqiu.com, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
