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https://scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3192560/russia-and-china-hold-joint-naval-patrols-pacific-moscow-says Military
Russia and China hold joint naval patrols in the Pacific, Moscow says
- Crews are carrying out exercises involving artillery and helicopters to strengthen cooperation between the countries, according to Russian defence ministry
- The West is anxiously eyeing the partnership between the two nations, whose leaders are expected to meet in Uzbekistan on Thursday
Russian and Chinese warships first carried out joint patrols of the western Pacific Ocean in October last year. Photo: EPA-EFE
The Russian and Chinese navies are holding joint patrols in the Pacific Ocean, the Russian defence ministry said on Thursday, deepening military and diplomatic ties between Moscow and Beijing when their relations with the West have soured.
A ministry statement on messaging app Telegram said crews from both sides were conducting joint tactical manoeuvres and carrying out exercises involving artillery and helicopters.
“The tasks of the patrols involve the strengthening of naval cooperation between Russia and China, upholding peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, coastal monitoring and safeguarding Russian and Chinese nautical economic sites,” it said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is due on Thursday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Uzbekistan to discuss Ukraine and Taiwan, among others, in Xi’s first trip abroad in more than two years.
The deepening “no limits” partnership between the rising superpower of China and natural resources titan Russia is a geopolitical development the West is watching with anxiety.
Russian and Chinese warships conducted their first joint patrols of the western Pacific Ocean in October last year, a move closely monitored by Japan, which called the manoeuvres “unusual”.