The weeklong joint naval drills or what is called the “Joint Sea-2014” participated in by the navies of China and Russia started at the East China Sea near Shanghai yesterday.

Like Us on Facebook

No less than Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were at the launching ceremony of the naval drills which both countries believe will improve political trust and military cooperation between the two nations.

Fourteen naval vessels, two submarines, nine fixed-wing aircrafts, helicopters and special forces are participating in the drills.
Xi said that through the joint naval exercises both China and Russia will show to the world the two countries’ firm determination to respond to possible threats and challenges as they safeguard stability and security in the region.

The naval exercises will also demonstrate the higher level of trust and cooperation that now exists between China and Russia, said Xi.

For his part, Putin said that military cooperation is an essential part of the strategic partnership that exists between his country and China.

The Russian president called for better cooperation so that different threats and challenges can be dealt with so that stability and peace will reign in the region.

Joint Sea-2104 is the third naval exercise conducted by China and Russia. The first was in the Yellow Sea in April 2012 and the second off the Far East coast of Russia in July 2013.

Unlike in the past naval exercises, the vessels from both countries that are part of the ongoing drills were formed into three mixed groups. Each group led by both a Chinese and a Russian commander.

Wang Chao, head of a Chinese navy coordinating group said that the mixed grouping showed improved coordination between the navies of both countries.

Li Shuyin, a research fellow for the Academy of Military Sciences sees the drills in the same light adding that the ongoing drills illustrate a higher level of mutual trust and enhanced transparency existing between the two countries.