Russian Shipa
China and Russia have launched live-fire naval exercises in the South China Sea, according to Russian and Chinese state media, after strengthening military and trade ties in recent years as a result of US sanctions.
The Russian-Chinese navy exercise ‘Maritime Cooperation – 2024’ began with a ceremony at the Chinese port of Zhanjiang, according to the Russian military ministry via the Telegram messaging app.
During their sea operations, the sailors of Russian Pacific Fleet and PLA Navy ships were to perform cooperative air defense exercises and anti-submarine drills, with PLA naval anti-submarine planes participating, according to the Russian defense ministry.
China’s state-controlled Global Times newspaper, citing the People’s Liberation Army Navy, reported that both countries planned to deploy at least three vessels apiece for the three-day exercises.
According to Russia’s RIA state news agency, as part of the combined manoeuvres, the Russian Navy and the Chinese Navy fired artillery.
The drills follow the completion of a separate joint naval patrol in the north Pacific, which the Russian defense ministry had stated featured a detachment of Russia’s Pacific Fleet ships, including two corvettes, the Rezky and the Gromky.
In 2022, President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing only days before sending thousands of troops into Ukraine, and the two countries pledged a “no limits” cooperation.
China has yet to denounce the invasion and has increased its exports to Russia, allowing Moscow to keep its military economy afloat.
China claims control of practically the entire South China Sea, including the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippines has a rusted cruiser that it intentionally grounded in 1999 to strengthen its territorial claims and has been important to a recent stalemate between the two countries.
The escalating tensions have prompted US officials to warn Beijing that their mutual defense treaty obligations to the Philippines are unwavering According to Chinese customs figures, the “no limits” partnership saw two-way trade reach a record $240.1 billion in 2023, up 26.3 percent from the previous year.
