Russia, China to hold Mediterranean joint naval drills on May 11-21

MOSCOW, May 5. /TASS/. The Russian and Chinese navies will hold joint naval drills dubbed Joint Sea 2015 on May 11-21, Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. "The active phase of the exercises will be held in the Mediterranean Sea. The subject of the joint drills is the protection of navigation safety in the remote areas of the World Ocean. The main aim of the exercises is to further deepen friendly and practical interaction between the two countries and strengthen joint efforts for countering naval security threats at sea," the ministry said. The Russia-China naval drills "are not aimed against any third country and have no relation to the political situation in the region," the Russian Defense Ministry said. The Joint Sea 2015 exercises will involve about 10 warships from the Russian and Chinese navies, Russia's Defense Ministry said. China’s Defense Ministry said earlier nine surface ships would take part in the joint naval drills, including the Linyi, Weifang and Weishanhu warships from the Chinese navy. The sailors will practice "maritime defense, maritime replenishment, escort actions, joint operations to safeguard navigation security as well as real weapon firing drill." Read more