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Active phase of Joint Sea 2015 drills to begin in Mediterranean Sea

Before the beginning of the active phase of the exercises Russian and Chinese ships practiced joint maneuvers and the organization of anti-aircraft defence

MOSCOW, May 17. /TASS/. The active phase of the Joint Sea 2015 Russian-Chinese exercises will take place in the Mediterranean Sea between May 17 and 21. The drills were solemnly launched on May 11.

According to the Russian Defence Ministry, command and control of the joint drills will be exercised by Russian Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov and Chinese Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Du Jingchen.

The Joint Sea 2015 drills will involve nine warships, including the Linyi and Weifang frigates and a support vessel from the Chinese navy. Russia’s navy will be represented by the Moskva guided missile cruiser, the Ladny escort ship, the Alexander Otrakovsky and Alexander Shabalin large amphibious assault ships, the Samum missile-carrying hovercraft and a salvage tug.

"During the exercises, the headquarters of the combat ships’ grouping will be located aboard the Moskva guided missile cruiser," Russian Navy spokesman Igor Dygalo said.

Before the beginning of the active phase of the exercises Russian and Chinese ships practiced joint maneuvers and the organization of anti-aircraft defence.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov earlier said the subject of the joint drills was the protection of navigation safety in the remote areas of the World Ocean. According to him, the main aim of the exercises was to further deepen friendly and practical interaction between the two countries and strengthen joint efforts for countering naval security threats at sea."

The Russia-China naval drills "are not aimed against any third country and have no relation to the political situation in the region," Antonov said, adding that the next joint naval exercises would be held in August in the Sea of Japan.

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