Russia, China launch joint exercise in Mediterranean

Want China Times, Staff Reporter 2015-05-02

Geng Yansheng, the spokeperson of China's defense ministry announced on
April 30 that China will launch Joint Sea 2015 exercise with Russia over the
Mediterranean Sea in May. (Photo/CNS)

Geng Yansheng, the spokesperson of the Chinese ministry of defense confirmed that the People's Liberation Army Navy and the Russian Navy will launch joint naval exercises in the Mediterranean Sea later this month, according to our sister newspaper, Want Daily.

Among the nine vessels which will participate in the exercise, known as Joint Sea 2015, three warships are from the PLA Navy's 19th escort task force currently patroling the waters of the Gulf of Aden. Those ships include the Weishanhu, a Type 903 replenishment ship, the Linyi and the Weifang, two Type 054A guided-missile destroyers according to Geng. He said that the joint exercise is not being carried out with any third nation in mind and has nothing to do with the political developments in the region.

The exercise is being launched to help China and Russia to gain the experience both nations need to face potential maritime threats in the future, Geng said. Like the military parade held in Moscow to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, which Xi Jinping will attend personally, it is aimed at strengthening the military-to-military relationship between China and Russia, according to the report.

Chang Ching, a researcher from Taiwan's Society for Strategic Studies said that the exercise is not the first time that the PLA Navy has deployed its ships to the Mediterranean Sea. He said that China deployed the Linyi to Yemen to evacuate its citizens from the war-torn nation earlier this year. He said that the exercise should also be considered part of China's military diplomacy because its vessels may visit countries in the region after the exercises.