China and Russian Federation are set to launch joint naval drills on Thursday in the northern part of the East Sea, the body of water between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, according to China’s state media.
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“A group of seven ships from the Chinese Navy led by the frigate Shenyang will arrive in Vladivostok, the main naval base of the Pacific Fleet, on August 20 to take part in the Joint Sea 2015 (II) naval drills”.
“The major goals of the exercises will be to train and improve the organization of joint actions in the sea, on land and in the air”, said Russian Eastern Military District spokesman Capt. 1st Rank Roman Martov. The U.S. Naval Institute’s online news and analysis portal, USNI, said Tuesday that the coming China-Russia exercises will be the second series of joint drills in less than a year.
The first “Joint Sea 2015” operation was held in the Mediterranean Sea in April.
The presence of the 200 marines, which each side will field, underscores the decision by the two forces to stage a joint beach landing, an intent that has grabbed attention on account of several island disputes in the Pacific.
The Xinhua News Agency quoted sources close to the operation as saying that the drills “are not targeted at any third party and are not relevant to regional status-quo”. Released last month, Russia’s updated doctrine makes its military partnership with China the cornerstone of its naval strategy in the Pacific.
The U.S., Japan and the Philippines recently did a joint military exercise in Subic Bay. The Russian navy, meanwhile, will send 16 surface ships, two submarines, 12 naval aircraft, nine amphibious vehicles and 200 marines.
A total of 19 vessels, eight planes and two teams of special forces from the two countries participated in the exercises, which took place near Peter the Great Gulf.
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The drills involved nine surface ships from the two navies, focusing on maritime defense, replenishment and escorts.
