China, Russia Launch Largest-Ever Joint Naval Drill In Sea of Japan, Highlighting Warming Ties

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

BEIJING — China and Russia kicked off their largest-ever joint naval drills on Friday in the Sea of Japan, a further sign of the broad-based progress in ties between the former Communist rivals.

Eighteen surface ships, one submarine, three airplanes, five ship-launched helicopters and two commando units were taking part in the "Joint Sea-2013" exercise that runs through July 12. The drills will cover anti-submarine warfare, close maneuvering and the simulated take-over of an enemy ship.

The drills are considerably bigger than anything China's navy has previously held with a foreign partner. China's increasingly formidable navy is contributing four destroyers, two latest-generation guided missile frigates and a support ship, all of which sailed Monday from the port of Qingdao, where China's Northern Fleet is based, to the rallying point in Peter the Great Bay near Vladivostok.

"This is our strongest lineup ever in a joint naval drill," Rear Admiral Yang Junfei, commander of the Chinese contingent, was quoted as saying by state media.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/214346931.html

[ConcernedCanuk]

1. I wonder who they are concerned about?

.
.
.



CC

[Ash_F]

2. Hm? I guess this is a great time for the US to alienate Europe too.

Every single continent is covered. Do we get a BINGO?

[Franker65]

3. This shouldn't be too much of a surprise

Russia and China have been cooperating a lot more lately, so this shouldn't prove too surprising. China also intends to drastically increase its oil imports from Russia, after signing a major agreement. More naval cooperation should be good news in terms of combatting piracy, though I'm sure Japan probably has major reservations about what's going on.

[hack89]

4. Great opportunity for the US and Japan to gather intelligence nt

[bemildred]

5. Multiple failed wars have consequences. nt