Russia & China start joint military drills at Mediterranean Sea

Asia-Pacific, Europe, News May 17, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

Russia and China have kicked off joint war games under the name of “Sea Cooperation – 2015” in the Mediterranean Sea, Russian Defense Ministry says.

“The active phase of the exercises will be held in the Mediterranean between May 17 and 21. About 10 warships from the Russian Navy and the People’s Liberation Army Navy [of China] will be participating,” RT quoted a statement from the Defense Ministry as saying on Sunday.

The drill’s command base will be on the flagship of the Crimea-based Russian Black Sea Fleet the Moskva, a guided missile cruiser, the statement added.

Russian Black Sea Fleet flagship, Moskva, leaving the port of Sevastopol for the joint Russia-China exercises in the Mediterranean. (RIA Novosti)

The goal of joint drills “is to strengthen mutual understanding between the navies… regarding boosting stability, countering new challenges and threats at sea,” said deputy commander of the Russian Navy, vice admiral Aleksandr Fedotenkov, who is leading the exercises from the Russian side.

Chinese Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Du Czinchen, will be China’s commander of the drills.

The drill is not aimed at any third country or linked to the region’s political situation, said Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov.

Earlier, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced that the drills focused on live fire exercises, escort missions, at-sea replenishment, and navigation safety.

Besides the Moskva, Bora-class hover borne guided missile corvette the Samum, Krivak-class missile frigate the Ladny, Project 775 Large Landing Ships (LLS), the Aleksandr Otrakovsky and Aleksandr Shabalin, and Navy Tug MB-31 will be taking part in the exercise from the Russian side.

China sent a pair of 4,000-ton Type 54A Jiangkai II frigates – the ‘Linyi (574)’ and the ‘Weifang (547)’ as well as a replenishment ship, the ‘Wei Shanhu,’ to the Mediterranean.

Earlier, Russia announced its land forces will take part in a series of joint drills with troops in China, Belarus, India, and Mongolia later this year. The exercises will focus on peacekeeping and antiterrorist activities, the Kremlin said.

The Russian-Chinese drills are taking place at a time when NATO and its allies are carryout war games in Europe.

With relations between Moscow and the West having deteriorated over the Ukraine crisis, Russia has increased cooperation with its Chinese neighbors, in both economic and military spheres.

RT/SRK/NT/AS