Russian and Chinese navies carry out defensive exercises in South China Sea
The Russian and Chinese navies, as part of the joint Cooperation-2016 exercises in the South China Sea, have so far focused on ship defense, according to the head of the department of information support of the press service of the Russian Eastern Military District for the Pacific Fleet, Captain Vladimir Matveev.
"The crew members have practiced the elements of anti-submarine-sabotage defense, air defense and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) on unprotected raid. In addition, in the course of joint maneuvers, training on communication was conducted", he told.
The Russian and Chinese navies are also expected to carry out search and rescue exercises.
A detachment of combat ships of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, including the Admiral Tributs and Admiral Vinogradov large anti-submarine ships, the Peresvet landing ship, the Alatau sea tugboat and the Pechenga tanker, came to China to participate in the exercise. Commander of the detachment is Rear Admiral Vadim Kulit.
According to the joint staff of the exercise leadership, the exercise involves a total of two submarines, 20 surface ships, over 20 aircraft and helicopters, more than 250 marines, 12 armored personnel carriers and armored amphibians.
The first Sea Cooperation was held in 2012 in the Yellow Sea. The exercise involved 25 ships and submarines, 13 aircraft, nine helicopters and two special forces detachments.
This year's exercises come after the arbitration court in The Hague ruled that China did not have historic rights to the South China Sea.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to the Sea.