Russia launches largest navy drills of post-Soviet era alongside China in Sea of Japan
Russia launched its largest navy drills of the post-Soviet era on Tuesday alongside Chinese warships, the latest sign of deepening military cooperation between the two global powers. The drills will continue until September 16 and will involve more than 400 warships, submarines and other maritime vessels.
Russian and Chinese warships began joint drills in the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, part of a major naval exercise that will see Moscow sail through waters spanning the Northern Hemisphere and Pacific.
Moscow and Beijing have deepened military and economic cooperation in recent years, as both countries seek to counterbalance what they see as a United States-led global order.
President Vladimir Putin will make an address formally opening the Russian-led "Ocean-2024" exercise and will oversee them "from a situation centre in the Kremlin," his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
The drills will involve more than 400 warships, submarines and support vessels and last until 16 September, according to the Russian defence ministry.
China sent four warships and a supply vessel to the exercise, joining Russia's naval fleet in the Sea of Japan, it said.
Russia said the exercises were aimed at testing the "readiness" of the navy's leadership, using weapons and expanding co-operation with "partner countries".
