China is sending a group of 16 ships, including destroyers, frigates, and a hospital ship. Russia is sending 4 ships, including the cruiser Varyag and three air defense destroyers now moving south from Vladivostok to join the Chinese after navigating through the Sea of Japan.
CHIANGRAI TIMES –Russia and China launched their first joint naval exercises Sunday, with war games in the Yellow Sea that come amid tensions between China & its Asian neighbors over territorial claims.
The six days of drills — the first dedicated exercises involving navies of the countries — are taking place off China’s east coast, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Chinese tanks and marines participate in an amphibious assault drill during joint military exercises with Russia. (Photo: AFP / AFP-Getty Images)
China’s army newspaper warned Saturday that other military exercises now taking place in Asia between the United States & the Philippines could lead to armed confrontation over the disputed South China Sea.
Although China has said the military exercises are designed to improve regional stability, they come at a time when Beijing is boosting military spending & more forcefully stating its case in territorial disputes.
Beijing & Tokyo also have a long-running dispute over another chain of islands in the East China Sea, called Diaoyu by China & Senkaku by Japan, which sit in rich fishing grounds that may also harbor energy resources.
China & several of its neighbors have rival claims to uninhabited islands in the strategic maritime region, which is believed to be rich in oil & natural gas & straddles strategic shipping lanes vital to global trade.
China has 16 naval vessels & submarines taking part in the exercises while Russia has warships, according to state media.
They will focus on joint air defense, anti-submarine tactics & search & rescue, as well as simulated rescue of hijacked vessels & anti-terrorism drills.
“This joint military exercise is a long scheduled between China & Russia in order to uphold regional peace & stability,” foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told a regular news briefing on Thursday.
China & Russia have together participated in military exercises since 2005, some involving other countries, state media has said.
Chinese and Russian naval officers unveiling joint drill's
China’s drills with Russia have taken place through a regional grouping, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which groups the with central Asian countries in a forum originally established to counter NATO influence.
“It’s worrisome to its neighbors,” said Joshua Eisenman, senior fellow in China studies at the Washington-based American Foreign Policy Council.
With military cooperation between the elderly Cold War allies on the rise, some analysts questioned the worth of China holding exercises with Russia, given Moscow’s diminished role.
Countries like Korea, Japan, Vietnam & India are already concerned about China’s role in the region.
From a Chinese point of view, I don’t see the worth of this type of military exercise to building long-term strategic trust with its neighbors.
The Philippines & the United States also started major war games as a timely boost to their military alliance, as part of Washington’s “pivot” towards Asia, which has provoked displeasure from China.
Earlier this month, China & the Philippines dispatched vessels to enforce rival claims to a group of islands in the South China Sea.
“The mentality behind this type of military exercise will lead to the road of military confrontation & armed force as a resolution,” the newspaper said.
The People’s Liberation Army Every day, a newspaper known for its nationalistic article stance, on Saturday issued a warning to the United States over its participation.
Chinese specialists see the exercises with Russia as giving its military chances to interact with a contemporary navy. Yin Zhuo, a professional who advises the Chinese navy, said the number of ships involved was unprecedented.
But Japan’s defense ministry said in a recent document that China was becoming increasingly active in waters near Japanese territory while Russia was holding more frequent military exercises in its Far East region.
