ZHANJIANG (Sputnik) — Russian-Chinese naval partnership and cooperation is highly effective and pursues maritime security across the world, Russian Navy's Deputy Commander-in-Chief Vice Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov said Monday.
"In highlighting the importance of Russian-Chinese cooperation and naval partnership, it can be called highly effective. This is due to the aim of our partnership, as expressed in the pursuit of ensuring the security of peaceful activities across the world's seas and oceans and in the prevention of dangerous challenges," Fedotenkov said at a welcoming ceremony for Russian military ships arriving for the Russian-Chinese Joint-Sea 2016 naval drills.
China is hosting this year's joint naval exercises with Russia. A total of 18 ships and supply vessels, 21 aircraft and over 250 service personnel from the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy are taking part in the Joint-Sea 2016 naval drills on September 12-19 in the South China Sea.
Russia's Admiral Vinogradov and Admiral Tributs Udaloy-class destroyers will take part in the exercise alongside several other ships. Activities will include the defense of anchored ships, search and rescue operations and retaking seized vessels. Joint missile and artillery strikes will be also carried out against marine targets. The drills will conclude with a simultaneous amphibious and air landing operation on an island captured by a simulated enemy.
Earlier in the day, a Russian Navy spokesman stressed that the exercises are not directed against any third party and are not linked to any geopolitical changes in the region.
The previous Russian-Chinese Joint Sea-2015 naval exercises were hosted by Russia and took place in Russia’s Far Eastern Primorsky Territory. The active phase of the drills involved 500 marines, 22 warships and support vessels, 15 air vessels, 40 units of equipment and 2 drones. Russian-Chinese joint military exercises have been taking place regularly since 2005.
