China and Russia to stage naval drills in Mediterranean Sea
Exercise will be the first time the two countries have held military exercises together in that region
China will hold joint naval drills with Russia this month in the Mediterranean Sea, the first time for the two countries to hold military exercises together in that part of the world, the Chinese defence ministry said on Thursday.
China and Russia have held naval drills in Pacific waters since 2012. The May manoeuvres come as the United States ramps up military cooperation with its allies in Asia in response to Beijing's increasingly assertive pursuit of maritime territorial claims.
A total of nine ships from the two countries would take part, including vessels China has on anti-piracy patrols in waters off Somalia, ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said.
"The aim is to deepen both countries' friendly and practical cooperation, and increase our navies' ability to jointly deal with maritime security threats," Geng said.
"What needs saying is that these exercises are not aimed at any third party and have nothing to do with the regional situation."
Geng gave no specific date for the drills, which will be focused on navigation safety, at-sea replenishment, escort missions and live-fire exercises.