China, Russia Kick Off Live-fire Naval Exercises
China and Russia have begun live-fire naval exercises in the South China Sea, Russian and Chinese state media reported, with the two countries having strengthened military and trade ties in recent years following U.S. sanctions on both.
The opening ceremony of the Russian-Chinese naval exercise ‘Maritime Cooperation – 2024’ took place in the Chinese port of Zhanjiang, the Russian defence ministry said on the Telegram messaging app.
During their sea manoeuvres, the crews of ships of the Russian Pacific Fleet and the PLA Navy were to conduct joint air defense exercises and anti-submarine drills with the involvement of PLA naval anti-submarine aviation, the Russian defence ministry said.
“Both countries were to deploy at least three vessels each for the three-day exercises,” China’s state controlled Global Times newspaper said, citing the People’s Liberation Army Navy.
Russia’s RIA state news agency reported on Tuesday, citing Russia’s Pacific Fleet, that the Russian Navy and the Chinese Navy conducted artillery firing as part of the joint drills.
The drills follow the completion of a separate joint naval patrol in the north Pacific, which the Russian defence ministry said earlier involved “a detachment of Russia’s Pacific Fleet ships, including two corvettes, the Rezky and the Gromky.”
Wang Guangzheng of the PLA Navy’s Southern Theatre told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV that: “the China-Russia joint patrol has promoted the deepening and practical cooperation between the two in multiple directions and fields.”
“And effectively enhanced the ability to the two sides to jointly respond to maritime security threats.”
Reuters/Shakirat Sadiq
