[ad_1]
BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Wednesday it had sent navy ships to prepare for joint exercises with Russia’s navy, in a sign of Beijing’s continued support for Moscow’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
The move comes despite the mounting economic and humanitarian repercussions of the bloody 16-month offensive by air, sea and land.
China claims to be neutral in the conflict, but has accused the United States and its allies of provoking Russia and has maintained strong economic, diplomatic and trade ties with Moscow.
According to the New China News Agency (Xinhua), the exercises involve more than 10 ships and more than 30 aircraft.
The ministry and Xinhua did not give any details, but it is believed that the exercises will be held in parts of the Sea of ​​Japan in the coming days.
China has reliably backed Russia in opposing US condemnation of the Ukraine invasion in international forums, but says it will not provide arms to either side in the war.
The Defense Ministry said in a press release on Wednesday that the Chinese ships had communicated with their Russian counterparts at noon.
Among them are the guided-missile destroyers Qiqihar and Guiyang, the guided-missile frigates Zhaozuang and Rizhao, and the supply ship Taihu.
The report stated that the Chinese ships were carrying four helicopters.
Among the Russian participants were the frigates Gromkiy and Otlichnyy, which have been hosting visitors for a week in the financial center of Shanghai, China’s largest city and largest port.
Two Russian Navy ships visit China as the two countries reaffirm their military ties The war in Ukraine.
The joint exercises focus on ship-to-ship communications, formation maneuvers, and maritime search and rescue, according to Chinese reports.
The visit follows a meeting in Beijing between China’s defense minister and a Russian navy chief, the first official military talks between the two friendly neighbors since a short-lived mutiny by Russia’s Wagner mercenary group.
China reassured Russia of its continued support since the uprising. China’s Defense Ministry said National Defense Minister Li Shangfu told Russian Admiral Nikolai Yevminov that China hopes to increase exchanges, joint exercises and other forms of cooperation to help defense relations “reach a new level.”
China operates the world’s largest navy in terms of the number of hulls and vastly outnumbers the Russian navy in terms of size and technical ability.
The navies of the two countries have conducted a series of joint exercises and maneuvers since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, as have the air forces.
The move comes despite the mounting economic and humanitarian repercussions of the bloody 16-month offensive by air, sea and land.
China claims to be neutral in the conflict, but has accused the United States and its allies of provoking Russia and has maintained strong economic, diplomatic and trade ties with Moscow.
According to the New China News Agency (Xinhua), the exercises involve more than 10 ships and more than 30 aircraft.
The ministry and Xinhua did not give any details, but it is believed that the exercises will be held in parts of the Sea of ​​Japan in the coming days.
China has reliably backed Russia in opposing US condemnation of the Ukraine invasion in international forums, but says it will not provide arms to either side in the war.
The Defense Ministry said in a press release on Wednesday that the Chinese ships had communicated with their Russian counterparts at noon.
Among them are the guided-missile destroyers Qiqihar and Guiyang, the guided-missile frigates Zhaozuang and Rizhao, and the supply ship Taihu.
The report stated that the Chinese ships were carrying four helicopters.
Among the Russian participants were the frigates Gromkiy and Otlichnyy, which have been hosting visitors for a week in the financial center of Shanghai, China’s largest city and largest port.
Two Russian Navy ships visit China as the two countries reaffirm their military ties The war in Ukraine.
The joint exercises focus on ship-to-ship communications, formation maneuvers, and maritime search and rescue, according to Chinese reports.
The visit follows a meeting in Beijing between China’s defense minister and a Russian navy chief, the first official military talks between the two friendly neighbors since a short-lived mutiny by Russia’s Wagner mercenary group.
China reassured Russia of its continued support since the uprising. China’s Defense Ministry said National Defense Minister Li Shangfu told Russian Admiral Nikolai Yevminov that China hopes to increase exchanges, joint exercises and other forms of cooperation to help defense relations “reach a new level.”
China operates the world’s largest navy in terms of the number of hulls and vastly outnumbers the Russian navy in terms of size and technical ability.
The navies of the two countries have conducted a series of joint exercises and maneuvers since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, as have the air forces.
[ad_2]
