China and Russia are slated to hold joint naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea in September underscoring Moscow's show of support for Beijing following a recent arbitration court ruling that dismissed China's expansive claims to the disputed maritime territory.

Senior Col. Yang Yujun, the spokesman for the Chinese ministry of national defense, said on Thursday that the military exercise would be held in September but refused to give details on where exactly in the South China Sea the drills will take place and the size of the participating forces.

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Dubbed Joint Sea 2016, Yang said the military exercise was not aimed at a particular country and whatever skills the two countries would gain in the drills would strengthen the two navies' capabilities to respond to maritime threats.

"Following a joint understanding reached between China and Russia the navies of the two countries will hold a joint military exercise in the relevant sea and air areas of the South China Sea in September under the name Joint-Sea 2016," Colonel Yang said.

Scarborough shoal

The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on June 12 rejected China's claims to almost the entirety of the South China Sea where Beijing has been building artificial islands and military facilities such as outposts and airstrips.

Manila has expressed worry that Beijing would start constructing artificial islands in the Philippine-claimed Scarborough Shoal, 220 miles northwest of Manila despite the ruling of the arbitral court.

Meanwhile, Beijing boycotted the entire three-year proceedings. China also dismissed the ruling of the court as 'illegal', 'null and void' and a 'waste piece of paper.'

Partnership

Military experts said the military drills is more of a show of partnership between the two allies during this 'tense' and difficult time than a preparation for a possible military strategic shift in the region.

"My inclination is to view this (military exercise) as one of a series of Chinese reactions to the ruling that can demonstrate the Chinese Communist Party's resolve to defend Chinese sovereignty and thus fend off pressure from the public and the military," said Bonnie Glaser, director of China Power Project.

China has said that it would resolve the maritime territorial dispute through bilateral talks with the Philippines and other claimant countries as it lambasted third party intervention by US, Japan, and Australia.

Beijing has welcomed the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's appointment of a special envoy for negotiations.

Duterte has appointed former Philippine President Fidel Ramos as special envoy due to his extensive background in diplomacy and in handling disputes during his term as Head of State.

TagsJoint Sea 2016, Moscow, South China Sea, Scarborough Shoal, china