Russian ships arrive in China for joint naval exercise

Beijing: A Russian naval task force today arrived at a naval base in eastern China for a joint exercise with the Chinese navy next week, state-run media said.

The task force, four warships from Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet and three supply ships, left their home port in Vladivostok on April 15 to join in the war game slated for April 22-27 in the Yellow Sea, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Russian warships include the Pacific Fleet's flagship Varyag, a slava-class guided missile cruiser, and Marshal Shaposhnikov, Admiral Panteleyev and Admiral Vinogradov, three Udaloy-class destroyers.

According to China's Defence Ministry, the exercise will focus on joint maritime air defence, anti-submarine tactics, maritime search and rescue as well as joint effort to rescue hijacked vessels.

The Chinese navy will send 16 surface vessels including destroyers, frigates, support and hospital ships, and two submarines to participate in the drill.

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The two navies will also deploy aircraft and special force units to conduct joint maritime anti-terror task in the exercise, which evoked concerns in Japan as it is to take place not far from its maritime borders.

Since 2005, China and Russia have conducted several joint military exercises within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

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