China, Russia Begin South China Sea Drills
China and Russia began week-long joint naval exercises in the South China Sea today. It is the first-ever South China Sea iteration of Beijing and Moscow Joint Sea exercises.
The Joint Sea-2016 exercises between the two countries will involve surface ships, submarines, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and amphibious vehicles, according to a Defense Ministry statement issued Sunday. The exercises will conclude on September 19.
The navies jointly launched eight days of war games, in a sign of growing cooperation between their armed forces against the backdrop of regional territorial disputes.
The “Joint Sea-2016” maneuvers include surface ships, submarines, ship-borne helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, along with marines and amphibious armored vehicles who will conduct live-firing exercises.
According to Chinese Navy spokesperson Liang Yang, the navies will engage in a “joint-island seizing missions,” which appears to be a new addition to the Joint Sea drills in 2016.
Last year’s iteration in the Sea of Japan did not include an amphibious assault component, according to the Chinese Defense Ministry.
"It will also improve coordination between the two navies on joint defense operations at sea," Liang said.
The drills were "routine" and not directed at any other countries, Chinese Navy said in the statement.
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan alongwith the Philippines, contest China's claims over the South China Sea.
