Chinese and Russian navy ships conduct first joint drills in Mediterranean
China started its joint naval drills with Russia in the Mediterranean Sea yesterday, the China News Service reported.
It is the first time the two countries have held a joint military exercise in the area. It is also the first time the People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels have held an exercise this far from home ports, although the scale of the drill is limited.
China deployed three ships and two shipboard helicopters for the drill, led by the Russian Navy, the report said. Russia sent six vessels to the exercises that conclude on May 21.
The PLA ships include the frigates Linyi and Weifang and the supply vessel Weishanhu, which have completed an escort mission in the Gulf of Aden.
The Linyi was also involved in evacuating hundreds of Chinese and foreigners from Yemen last month.
In another development, China has invited Russian troops to march in a parade in Beijing in September to commemorate the end of the second world war, the defence ministry said yesterday, a move likely to further put off Western leaders from attending.
China has been coy about which countries it plans to invite to the parade, but says it will probably invite representatives from the Western Allies who fought with China in the war.
President Xi Jinping attended a parade in Moscow last Saturday to mark 70 years since the end of the war in Europe.
The ministry said Fan Changlong, deputy chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission, told Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu that China warmly welcomes Russian military leaders to take part in the September events in Beijing.
The parade will be Xi’s first since he became party leader and military chief in 2012 and as state president in 2013.
