Chinese, Russian Navies Launch 9-Day Qingdao Drills, Followed by Pacific Patrols
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 5
Chinese, Russian Navies Launch 9-Day Qingdao Drills, Followed by Pacific Patrols
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 5
Summary
Monday’s Joint Sea exercises off Qingdao will run through July 13, pairing Chinese and Russian naval forces in waters and airspace off China’s eastern coast before joint Pacific patrols.
The drills will rehearse reconnaissance, air and missile defence, and surface strikes, with China sending two destroyers, a frigate, a submarine, a supply ship and rescue vessel.
Russia’s Pacific Fleet has already arrived in Qingdao with the cruiser Varyag, corvette, diesel-electric submarine Ufa and a rescue vessel for the annual exercise.
The manoeuvres follow Vladimir Putin’s China trip about two months ago, when he and Xi Jinping hailed ties as at an “unprecedentedly high” and “unyielding” level.
China and Russia have held Joint Sea drills since 2012; last year’s edition was near Vladivostok, while Beijing still says it is neutral on Russia’s war in Ukraine.