MBABANE:China and Russia have begun joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan as they seek to reinforce their partnership and counterbalance what they see as a United States-led global order, Aljazeera reported on Sunday.
It has been reported that, the Chinese and Russian governments have deepened their ties in recent years, with China providing an economic lifeline to Russia in the face of Western sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Joint Sea-2025 exercises began in waters near the Russian port of Vladivostok and will last for three days, China’s Ministry of National Defence said in a statement on Sunday.
The two sides will hold “submarine rescue, joint anti-submarine, air defence and anti-missile operations, and maritime combat”.
Four Chinese vessels, including guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, are participating in the exercises, alongside Russian ships, the ministry said.
After the drills, the two countries will conduct naval patrols in “relevant waters of the Pacific”.
Chinese and Russian naval vessels are seen. Chinese and Russian naval vessels [File: China Daily/Handout via Reuters]