Russia, China begin Sea of Japan joint exercise

Russia and China Friday began their large-scale naval exercise in the Sea of Japan with the arrival of seven Chinese ships, UPI quoted military officials as saying. The Chinese naval ships arrived in Russia's Far Eastern port of Vladivostok for the seven-day Naval Interaction 2013 exercise, RIA Novosti reported. A total of 20 Russian and Chinese warships and auxiliary vessels and about a dozen places are involved in the program. Rear Adm. Leonid Sukhanov, deputy chief of the Russian Navy Main Staff who welcomed the Chinese vessels, said it is the biggest Chinese naval task force ever to arrive at the main base of Russia's Pacific Fleet. "The Naval Interaction 2013 exercises are not directed against any third party and are not politically charged," he said, adding they should not be treated as a threat or warning to any country. China's deputy commander in chief of the Navy, Vice Adm. Ding Yiping, said the exercises are aimed at improving the two states' anti-piracy cooperation. Earlier, the two countries' military heads, Gen. Fang Fenghui, chief of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and Russian Army Gen. Valery Gerasimov, announced in Moscow the two sides will also hold another exercise from July 27 through Aug. 15. That one, code named Peace Mission 2013, would take place in Russia's Urals region.