Russia and China to hold joint naval drills in Sea of Japan

Moscow [Russia], July 31: Russia and China will begin several days of joint military exercises in the Sea of Japan on Friday, the Russian Navy announced. The drills, part of the Maritime Interaction series, will run from August 1 to 5 and are described by Moscow as purely defensive and not directed at any country. The exercises are intended to strengthen cooperation and facilitate knowledge-sharing between Russian and Chinese naval forces, according to state media reports on Wednesday, citing the Pacific Fleet. The manoeuvre will involve submarines, naval aviation and surface ships. Activities will include joint search and rescue operations, anti-submarine and air defence exercises, as well as live-fire artillery drills in a designated training zone, the Russian fleet said. The command centre for the operation is based in the port city of Vladivostok. Moscow and Beijing have conducted joint naval drills regularly since 2012. Russia has emphasized its interest in demonstrating continued military strength in the region, particularly in light of what it sees as growing US activity in the Pacific. The Kremlin also aims to signal that its military remains capable of global operations despite its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.(dpa)
Source: Qatar Tribune