Russian, Chinese navies hold joint drills in Mediterranean

Nine Russian and Chinese warships kicked off joint military exercises dubbed, ‘Sea Cooperation - 2015’ in the Mediterranean on Sunday, Russia Today quoted the Russian Defense ministry as saying.

“The active phase of the exercises will be held in the Mediterranean between May 17 and 21, about 10 warships from the Russian Navy and the People's Liberation Army Navy [of China] will be participating,” a statement from the Defense Ministry said.

The flagship of the Crimea-based Russian Black Sea Fleet, guided missile cruiser the ‘Moskva’, will be the headquarters for the drills, the statement added.

The goal of the Russia-China exercises “is to strengthen mutual understanding between the navies... regarding boosting stability, countering new challenges and threats at sea," Vice-Admiral Aleksandr Fedotenkov, a deputy commander of the Russian Navy, who is leading the exercises from the Russian side, said.

Chinese Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Du Czinchen, will be China’s commander of the drills.

Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov stressed “the war games aren’t aimed against any third country and aren’t linked to the political situation in the region.”

The Chinese Defense Ministry said earlier the joint maneuvers will focus on navigation safety, at-sea replenishment, escort missions and live fire exercises.