Two Russian warships arrive in China for joint naval exercises
This picture taken from a Vietnam Coast Guard ship on May 13, 2014 shows a China Navy ship sailing in the South China Sea. PHOTO: AFP
Two Russian warships have arrived in the southern Chinese port city of Zhanjiang to participate in joint naval exercises, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Saturday.
The "Interaction Maritime 2024" exercise will involve vessels from Russia’s Pacific fleet and will take place from Monday to Wednesday.
The drills will include anti-air and anti-submarine operations, with Chinese planes specializing in anti-submarine maneuvers also taking part.
China and Russia have strengthened their ties significantly since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
The two countries conduct joint military exercises regularly, although their level of interoperability remains significantly lower than that of NATO, according to a report by the European Union Institute for Security Studies released in early July.