China and Russia to launch joint military exercises in June
Staff Reporter 2013-03-06 11:56 (GMT+8)


A Russian cruiser and Chinese destroyer carry out a joint exercise in 2012. (Photo/CNS)

China's North Sea Fleet and Russia's Pacific Fleet plan to launch a joint naval exercise over the Sea of Japan this June, reports the Global Times, a tabloid under the auspices of the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily.

According to official Russian media, a treaty was signed between the two countries to launch naval and anti-terrorism exercises during Russian defense minister Sergey Shoygu's visit to Beijing last year. The latter will reportedly be conducted under the name Peace Mission 2013.

Representatives from both nations are currently discussing the details of the two exercises. Although China is still embroiled in a territorial dispute with Japan over the Diaoyutai (Diaoyu to China, Senkaku to Japan) islands, analysts from Russia believe a joint naval exercise with the Chinese will be able to challenge the power of the United States in the Western Pacific.

Since the naval exercise will be held at the Peter the Great Gulf, the largest gulf of the Sea of Japan, the vessels of China's North Sea Fleet will have to penetrate the La Perouse Strait between the Russian island of Sakhalin and Japanese island of Hokkaido. Reports suggest that it is likely that the nations will mobilize a total of at least 20 vessels for the exercise, with China sending 16 ships and Russia seven.
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-s...00059&cid=1101