China and Russia to hold joint naval drills

– Chinese naval vessels set sail this
weekend to participate in joint manoeuvres with the Russian military, Chinese
defence authorities said Sunday.

Ties between Moscow and Beijing have grown closer since Russia invaded
Ukraine last year, a move China has not condemned.

The two have ramped up defence contacts, including joint military drills in
recent months.

The latest air-and-sea exercises will take place in the Sea of Japan and are
aimed at “safeguarding strategic maritime routes”, the Chinese Ministry of
Defence had said Saturday.

The Chinese military has sent five warships, including a guided-missile
destroyer, it added in the statement published Sunday, without specifying
when the drills will take place.

China and Russia carried out a joint air patrol over the Seas of Japan and
East China last month, and the flights prompted South Korea to deploy fighter
jets as a precaution.

It was the sixth such China-Russia patrol in the area since 2019.

China’s defence minister Li Shangfu this month advocated boosting naval
cooperation with Russia.

Beijing has emerged as Moscow’s most important ally since the Ukraine war
began.

China says it is a neutral party in the conflict but its refusal to condemn
the invasion has led to accusations from Ukraine’s allies that it is
favouring Russia. (BSS/AFP)