Defence Web published on 30 September 2024 an article titled "Indian, Brazilian, and Chinese Warships Heading to South Africa" by Guy Martin.
The PLA Navy is sending its frigate CNS Xuchang to participate in the annual Navy Festival in Simons Town, South Africa, from 4-6 October. The PLA Navy hospital ship, Peace Ark, made a weeklong visit to Cape Town in August.
The Navy Festival will be followed from 7-16 October by Exercise IBSAMAR, which involves naval vessels from South Africa, India, and Brazil off the Western Cape. Exercise IBSAMAR debuted in 2008 as an alliance of three countries with democratic values, commercial interests, and maritime cooperation. India is sending the stealth frigate INS Talwar to Exercise IBSAMAR.
Comment: The juxtaposition of PLA and Indian naval vessels in South Africa one after the other underscores the naval competition between India and China in the Indian Ocean.
