The Russian and Chinese navies are carrying out artillery and anti-submarine drills in the Sea of Japan as part of scheduled joint exercises, the Russian Pacific Fleet was quoted as saying yesterday.
The drills are taking place two days after US President Donald Trump said he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in “the appropriate regions” in response to remarks by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. However, they were scheduled well before Trump’s action.
Interfax news agency quoted the Pacific Fleet as saying that Russian and Chinese vessels were moving in a joint detachment, including a large Russian anti-submarine ship and two Chinese destroyers.
Photo: AP
Diesel-electric submarines from the two countries were also involved, as well as a Chinese submarine rescue ship, it added.
Four Chinese vessels, including guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, are participating in the exercises, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense said.
After the drills, the two countries would conduct naval patrols in “relevant waters of the Pacific,” it added.
The maneuvers are part of exercises titled “Joint Sea-2025,” which are scheduled to end tomorrow.
Russian and Chinese sailors would conduct artillery firing, practice anti-submarine and air defense missions, and improve joint search and rescue operations at sea, Interfax said.
Russia and China, which signed a “no-limits” strategic partnership shortly before Russia went to war in Ukraine in 2022, conduct regular military exercises to rehearse coordination between their armed forces and send a deterrent signal to adversaries, with the “Joint Sea” exercises beginning in 2012.
Last year’s drills were held along China’s southern coast.
Trump said his submarine order on Friday was made in response to what he called “highly provocative” remarks by Russia’s Medvedev about the risk of war between the nuclear-armed adversaries.
Russia and the US have by far the biggest nuclear arsenals in the world. It is extremely rare for either country to discuss the deployment and location of its nuclear submarines.
Trump’s comments came at a time of mounting tension with Moscow as he grows frustrated at the lack of progress towards ending the Ukraine war.
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