The naval drills taking place in the Sea of Japan between August 20 and August 28 have been called record-setting by the newspaper People' Daily, the media organ of China's ruling Communist Party.
1. They Are the Longest China-Russia Exercises Yet
Putting together the two phases of the Joint Sea 2015 exercise, the total 19-day event is China's longest series of exercises conducted with a foreign power yet.
The exercises also mark the first time China and Russia have cooperated in both the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Japan, which show the two militaries' preparedness to defend maritime passages both near and far from the countries' borders.
2. The Exercises Are Huge
Counting both sides, the exercises include 23 surface ships, two submarines, 15 planes, 8 helicopters, 400 naval infantrymen and 30 amphibious landing ships, according to the newspaper.
Chinese forces form half of the infantry and nearly half of the other equipment. The exercises aimed to practice both cooperation in naval defense and landing operations.
3. First Time Chinese Air Force Goes Abroad
To join the exercise, five Chinese fixed-wing aircraft crossed the Russian border in-flight for the first time ever.
According to the newspaper, this demonstrates a high level of trust between the Russian and Chinese armed forces, and also highlights the specific character of landing operations in small-scale wars.
4. First Russian-Chinese Landing Operation Ever
According to People's Daily, the landing operation is typical for drills conducted by large powers, but it does not parallel those of "certain" states focused on capturing islands.
"Unlike certain countries, which from year to year conduct so called 'island capture' exercises where the opposing force is a certain state, the landing scenario of the Chinese-Russian exercises is mostly oriented toward the organization and tactics of military actions in a landing operation," People's Daily wrote.
