Russian Pacific fleet, China Navy launch joint drills in Sea of Japan
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Russia launches joint navy drills with China in the Sea of Japan as part of the larger 'Ocean-2024' exercise.
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Russian and Chinese warships begin joint drills in the Sea of Japan on September 10, 2024. (AFP)
The Russian Defense Ministry reported Sunday that warships from Russia's Pacific Fleet and China's People's Liberation Army Navy conducted missile and artillery drills in the Sea of Japan as part of the Ocean 2024 exercises.
"In the Sea of ​​Japan, warships of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy and the People's Liberation Army of China, acting as part of a joint detachment, worked out complex tasks with live firing of missile weapons and artillery as part of the Ocean 2024 strategic command and staff exercise," the ministry said.
It added that over 15 warships from the Russian side took part in this phase of the exercise.
"The actions of the naval forces were supported by more than 10 aircraft and helicopters of the Naval Aviation of the Pacific Fleet and the Russian Aerospace Forces. The destroyers Xining and Wuxi, as well as the frigate Lin Yi, participated from the Chinese side," the statement says.
The actions of the Russian and Chinese ship crews at sea were monitored by the Marshal Shaposhnikov frigate by 24 representatives from 10 countries.
On Tuesday, the Russian Navy's formations and units commenced the Ocean 2024 strategic command and staff exercises, which will continue until September 16. The drills are being conducted in a bilateral format under the overall command of Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief, Adm. Alexander Moiseyev.
The maneuvers, taking place in the waters of the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean, Caspian, and Baltic Seas, involve over 400 warships, submarines, and support vessels, more than 120 aircraft and helicopters from the Navy's naval aviation and the Aerospace Forces, approximately 7,000 units of military and special equipment, and over 90,000 personnel.
This comes after the Chinese Foreign Ministry informed Sputnik on August 16 that China consistently aims to elevate its relations with Russia to unprecedented heights.
The diplomatic office reaffirmed that Beijing will grow its relationship with Moscow within the parameters established by the leaders of the two states and noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Russia and China.
"This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China and the opening of the Years of Culture of Russia and China," it said.
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