The statement added that both the nations will carry out defence, rescue and anti-submarine operations, as well as “island seizing” and other activities.
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‘Ships of the Pacific Fleet arrived in China to take part in the drills, ‘ Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported. Most of the Chinese participants will come from the Nanhai Fleet under the People’s Liberation Army Navy.
China’s navy would contribute 10 ships, including destroyers, frigates, amphibious ships, supply vessels and submarines, along with 11 fixed-wing aircraft, eight helicopters, 160 marines and amphibious armour, it said. The Philippine Defense Department said four Chinese Coast Guard ships and six other vessels were less than a mile from Scarborough Shoal, which is claimed by the Philippines and China.
The Joint Sea-2016 drill between China and Russian Federation started on Monday on the South China Sea.
The show of force, called Joint Sea 2016, will be the largest of its type since the two countries started conducting such drills together in 2012.
The joint drills are likely to stir up tensions.
As well as China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Brunei also make overlapping claims to the South China Sea, a highly contested region which includes the disputed Spratly and Paracel Islands, and through which almost $5 trillion in worldwide trade passes annually.
Going further, Putin backed China’s rejection of a ruling over the summer by an worldwide tribunal denying Beijing’s claims to waters within the Philippines’ EEZ.
This year, Russian Federation and China are holding their fifth naval drill under that name.
Russian Federation and China back each other when it comes to politics especially on global controversies. “It is undoubtedly a joint exercise of great scale and depth”, the editorial said.
Last year, both the countries jointly organized military drills in the Sea of Japan and the Mediterranean Sea.
The oil and gas rich South China Sea is an important worldwide waterway, where China has been expanding its presence.
Those susceptible to such speculations are either ill-informed about the fact that the joint naval drill has been an annual event since 2012 and that the ongoing drill takes place just off China’s southern coast, or misled by their prejudice about China and Russian Federation. “We also expressed concern over USA attempts to strengthen its military and political clout in the Asia-Pacific region”.
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Joint drills have become increasingly common in recent years with Beijing and Moscow united in their suspicion of Washington and its allies in the region.
