Chinese guided-missile destroyer Tangshan (Hull 122) is moored in False Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa on January 6, 2026. The Will For Peace 2026 exercise brings together navies from BRICS Plus countries for joint maritime safety operations, multiple foreign media reported. Photo: VCG

BRICS members, including China, Russia and South Africa, recently wrapped up a joint maritime exercise off South Africa, in which they practiced rescuing a hijacked commercial vessel, according to official Chinese media on Sunday.

The "Will for Peace 2026" joint maritime exercise successfully concluded in waters and airspace off South Africa on Friday local time, the military channel of China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Sunday.

According to the CCTV report, the entire exercise was divided into two phases. The harbor phase ran from January 9 to 12, which mainly includes an opening ceremony, ship visits, cultural and sports activities, professional and technical exchanges, and other events. The sea phase with live-force drills took place from Tuesday to Thursday, during which Chinese naval vessels and participating ships from other countries conducted drills focusing on subjects such as communication exercises, formation maneuvers, and helicopter transfer of the wounded.

In an exercise session on armed rescue of a hijacked commercial vessel, a Chinese special forces unit was deployed to carry out the rescue mission, joined by forces from the South African and Russian sides. The three assault units covered each other, jointly seized control of key parts of the vessel such as the bridge, and successfully rescued the simulated hostages, according to the report.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that conducting relevant exercises can effectively enhance the capability to protect maritime security and the security of international shipping lanes.

The safety and smooth flow of maritime shipping lanes is a shared goal for the international community to safeguard, Zhang said.

China Military Bugle, an official media account under the PLA News Media Center, reported on Sunday that the joint exercise featured the PLA Navy’s guided missile destroyer Tangshan, comprehensive replenishment ship Taihu, a shipborne helicopter and dozens of special forces members. They collaborated with forces from BRICS members including Russian and South Africa, and carried out a full-element, multi-subject and high-intensity maritime joint exercise under the theme of joint actions to safeguard the security of key shipping lanes and economic activities, injecting positive energy into safeguarding regional peace and stability.