All news

Russia-China naval drills contribute to regional stability — China Defense Ministry

China’s Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng says the pragmatic cooperation of the armed forces demonstrates a high level of mutual trust and strategic coordination between China and Russia
A shot fired duting Russian-Chinese military drills (archive) ITAR-TASS/Alexei Drozhzhin
A shot fired duting Russian-Chinese military drills (archive)
© ITAR-TASS/Alexei Drozhzhin

BEIJING, May 29. /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian-Chinese Joint Sea 2014 naval drills in the Pacific contribute to strengthening peace and stability in the region, China’s Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said on Thursday.

“The Russian-Chinese exercises in the East China Sea have been successful,” the Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman said, adding that “the pragmatic cooperation of the armed forces demonstrates a high level of mutual trust and strategic coordination between China and Russia.”

“This contributes to maintaining peace and stability in the region,” Geng Yansheng said.

Russia sent a squadron of Pacific Fleet warships for participation in joint naval drills with China.

The grouping of Pacific Fleet’s warships comprised the guards missile cruiser Varyag, the destroyer Bystry, the big anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleev, the big assault landing ship Admiral Nevelskoy, the tanker Ilim and the sea-going tugboat Kalar.

A total of six surface ships and support vessels, two helicopters and a marine commando unit from Russia and six warships from China were involved in the war games.

The first Joint Sea military exercises were held in the Yellow Sea near the city of Qingdao in the east Chinese province of Shandong on April 22-27, 2012. A total of 25 warships and submarines, 13 warplanes, nine helicopters and two commando units participated in the war games.

Eighteen ships of the two countries took part in second Joint Sea military exercises, which were held in Peter the Great Bay in the Sea of Japan (the East Sea) on July 5-12, 2013.