The second phase of the Russian-Chinese Joint Sea-2015 naval maneuvers has officially ended outside the port of Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East, says spokesman for the Eastern Military District Roman Martov.
"Today, the exercise commanders from the Chinese and Russian sides announced in their joint headquarters the end of the Joint Sea-2015 (II) drills," he said in an official statement.
"The exercise marks not only the first time People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and Russian Navy have drilled together in an amphibious exercise but also the first time China has landed troops on foreign territory as part of the ongoing Joint Sea 2015 II, the Chinese Ministry of Defense said.
The exercise marks not only the first time People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and Russian Navy have drilled together in an amphibious exercise but also the first time China has landed troops on foreign territory as part of the ongoing Joint Sea 2015 II, the ministry said.
"Russian Vice Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov and Chinese Rear Admiral Wang Hai noted the high level of the maneuvers and interaction on the ground, at sea and in the air. The Russian and Chinese Navy men have got invaluable cooperation experience," Martov said.
The drills took place in the Peter the Great Gulf, the largest gulf in the Sea of Japan, close to the strategic Far Eastern Russian Pacific port city of Vladivostok.
The Sea of Japan borders four countries – Japan, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, with Russian and Chinese commanders of the exercises saying that the maneuvers are not directed against any other state.
The active phase of the drills, which were the second naval exercise between China and Russia this year, lasted between August 23 and August 27.
The naval exercises involved 500 marines, 22 warships and support vessels, 15 air vessels, 40 units of equipment and 2 drones. Russian and Chinese navy servicemen practiced anti-sabotage, anti-ship and mine defense operations.
The announcement comes amid tension between Beijing and Washington about China’s claimed jurisdiction over about 2 million square kms of the 3.55 million square kms South China Sea territory.