‘Not Aimed at Third Country’: Russia & China Start Joint Drills at Mediterranean
- ‘Not Aimed at Third Country’: Russia & China Start Joint Drills at Mediterranean
by http://rt.com/news/
Nine Russian and Chinese warships kicked off joint military exercises dubbed, ‘Sea Cooperation – 2015’ in the Mediterranean on Sunday, the Russian Defense ministry said.
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“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.
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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.
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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.
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Chinese Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Du Czinchen, will be China’s commander of the drills.
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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.”
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The Chinese Defense Ministry said earlier the joint maneuvers will focus on navigation safety, at-sea replenishment, escort missions and live fire exercises.
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Besides the Moskva, Bora-class hover borne guided missile corvette the Samum, Krivak-class missile frigate the Ladny, Project 775 Large Landing Ships (LLS), the Aleksandr Otrakovsky and Aleksandr Shabalin, and Navy Tug MB-31 will be taking part in the exercise from the Russian side.
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