China and Russia hold first naval exercises
‘Both sides will have deep exchanges in terms of
tactics and technology’:
CHINA: China and Russia on Sunday launched their first joint naval
exercises amid tensions between China and its Asian neighbours over
regional territorial claims.
The six days of drills are taking place in the Yellow Sea off China's
east coast, the official China News Service said, adding they were the
first dedicated exercises involving the two navies. The exercises near
Qingdao city off the coast of Shandong province were started by Russian
and Chinese military officials on Sunday morning, the state-run Xinhua
news agency said.
They come as China boosts military spending and asserts claims over
disputed territory, including a chain of islands in the East China Sea
also claimed by Japan.
China and several Asian countries also have rival claims to
uninhabited islands in the South China Sea, which is believed to be rich
in oil and natural gas and straddles strategic shipping lanes vital to
global trade.
The exercises will focus on joint air defence, anti-submarine tactics
and search and rescue, Xinhua has previously said. They will also
include simulated rescue of hijacked vessels and anti-terrorism drills.
China has 16 naval vessels and two submarines taking part while
Russia has four warships.
China said Thursday that the exercises were aimed at upholding
regional peace.
“This joint military exercise is a long scheduled one between China
and Russia in order to uphold regional peace and stability,” foreign
ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told a regular news briefing.
China and Russia have together participated in four military
exercises since 2005, some involving other countries as well, Xinhua has
said.
The two countries previously held joint war games in 2005 but these
are the first dedicated naval exercises, a Chinese expert said.
Yin Zhuo, an expert who advises the navy, said the number of ships
involved was unprecedented.
“Both sides will have deep exchanges in terms of tactics and
technology,” Yin told state television. |