Chinese and Russian naval forces destroyed a floating mine and repelled a simulated airstrike on Friday during joint naval exercises in the Sea of Japan, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The same note reported that the ships of the two countries carried out telecommunications exercises. Russia, which is represented in the exercises by the submarine chasers Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleyev and by the frigates Gromkiy and Otlichnyy, conducted surface target shooting training with artillery pieces.
The Russian squadron is commanded by Rear Admiral Valeri Kazakov, commander of the Primorye flotilla, which is part of the Pacific Fleet.
Four warships and a support ship of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, the Chinese Armed Forces, are taking part in the exercises on the Chinese side, including the destroyers Qiqihar and Guiyang, the guided-missile frigates Zaozhuang and Rizhao, and the ship Taihu Supply.
The exercises last until Sunday.
“The main purpose of these exercises is to strengthen naval cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China, as well as support stability and peace in the Asia-Pacific region,” the Russian side said.
The exercises, dubbed “North/Interaction-2023,” are taking place despite the growing economic and humanitarian repercussions caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
China claims to be neutral in the conflict but has accused the United States and its allies of provoking Russia and strengthened economic, diplomatic and trade relations with Moscow.
Beijing has refused to condemn the invasion of Ukraine in international forums, but has assured that it will not supply weapons to either side of the war.
China operates the world’s largest navy by number of hulls and far exceeds Russia’s navy in size and technical capability. The two countries’ fleets and air forces have conducted several joint exercises and maneuvers since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year.
Source: TSF
