Russia announced on Monday that several of its warships will take part in exercises with the Chinese navy from this week, as Moscow and Beijing strengthen their ties amid the conflict in Ukraine.
In a statement, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that these maneuvers will take place between December 21 and 27 in the East China Sea and that joint missile, artillery and anti-submarine warfare exercises sailors are on the program.
“The main purpose of the drills is to strengthen naval cooperation between Russia and China, maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region,” the ministry said.
According to this source, Russia will deploy the missile cruiser Varyag, the frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov, as well as two corvettes.
For its part, according to the Russian ministry, China will send two destroyers, two patrol boats, a supply ship and a diesel-powered submarine.
“Planes and helicopters from the (Russian) Pacific Fleet Air Force and the Chinese Navy will be used during the exercises,” the Russian ministry said.
Russia has been seeking in recent months to strengthen its ties with Asian countries, particularly China, in the face of Western sanctions taken against it following its offensive against Ukraine.
Moscow and Beijing present themselves as a geopolitical counterweight to the United States and its allies.
In late November, Russia announced that a squadron of Russian and Chinese strategic bombers had carried out an air patrol over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.