China, Russia to hold first joint naval drills in the Mediterranean

Asia-Pacific, Europe, News May 1, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

Navies of China and Russia plan to hold joint drills in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time next month

A total of nine ships, including three from China, will take part in the “Joint Sea 2015” exercises set to take place in the Mediterranean in mid-May, Beijing’s defense ministry announced Thursday.

The Chinese vessels are currently taking part in international anti-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said at a monthly briefing.

“What needs to be stressed is that this joint exercise is not targeting any third party and is not related to regional security,” he said.

“The purpose of the exercise is to strengthen the friendly exchanges between the two sides … and to improve the capability of the two navies to deal with maritime threats,” Geng said. He said the drills did not target any third parties and were not a response to fighting and instability in places such as Libya and Syria, he said.

The two countries, China and Russia, have held naval drills in Pacific waters since 2012. The May maneuvers come as the United States ramps up military cooperation with its allies in Asia in response to China’s increasingly assertive pursuit of maritime territorial claims.

Moscow and Beijing frequently align on major international issues and Beijing has refused to join in the condemnations and economic sanctions leveled against Moscow for its backing of the Ukrainian rebels.

China and Russia are both permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and have close diplomatic, economic and military ties, with China traditionally relying on Russia for its most advanced equipment.

In a further show of support, Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to attend commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Moscow on May 9. Most Western leaders are staying away from the event featuring a massive military parade, in which a 112-strong honor guard from the Chinese army, navy and air force will also take part.