PLA Daily: Top 10 military exercises of world in 2012(6)

F. "2012 International Torpedo Countermeasures" exercise

Exercise time: September 16 to 27

Participating countries: 25 countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and so on.

Exercise location: Persian Gulf

Exercise contents: Underwater mine detection and sweeping, breaking through the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz

Concern index: ★★★☆

Reasons for concern: the largest-scale military exercise of the Middle East in history

Military strength committed: 3 US "Nimitz"-class aircraft carriers, 1 UK "Fearless-class" aircraft carrier, a number of warships, minesweepers and submarines as well as thousands of officers and men

Expert's comments: Against the backdrop of the deadlock in the Iranian nuclear issue as well as Israel's "eager use of force" against Iran, Iran has repeatedly warned that if its security is threatened, the Strait of Hormuz will be blockaded. The US-led military exercise serves as a warning for Iran to refrain from any reckless actions. (By Cheng Fei, with the Department of Operational Theory and Doctrine Research of the PLA Academy of Military Sciences)