Russia, China hold naval manoeuvres in western Pacific Ocean

Beijing says the aim of the joint exercise was to further develop ‘China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.’

Russian and Chinese warships held their first joint patrols in the western Pacific Ocean over the past week.

Japan said on Sunday it closely monitored the naval manoeuvres.

Moscow and Beijing, which staged naval cooperation drills in the Sea of Japan earlier in October, have cultivated closer military and diplomatic ties in recent years at a time when their relations with the West have soured.

Tokyo said earlier in the week that a group of 10 vessels from China and Russia sailed through the Tsugaru Strait separating Japan’s main island and its northern island of Hokkaido.

“The group of ships passed through the Tsugaru Strait for the first time as part of the patrol,” Russia’s defence ministry confirmed in a statement on Saturday.

“The tasks of the patrols were the demonstration of the Russian and Chinese state flags, maintaining of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and guardianship of the subjects of maritime economic activities of the two countries,” the ministry added.

China’s defence ministry said on Sunday the joint exercise aimed to “further develop the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era, enhance the joint action capabilities of both parties and jointly maintain international and regional strategic stability”.

A report on the ministry website said the operation was part of annual cooperation between the two nations and not targeted at third parties.