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China, Russia hold joint naval drills after NATO warmongering remarks

The Russian corvette Gromkiy enters the port of Zhanjiang during the "Joint Sea-2024" China-Russia naval exercise, in Zhanjiang, China, in this still image from video released on July 13, 2024. (Photo by Reuters)

China and Russia have conducted joint naval exercises at a military port in southern China, amid tensions with the US-led NATO military alliance.

The “Joint Sea-2024” exercises began in the city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong Province on Sunday, and are expected to last until mid-July.

According to the Chinese Defense Ministry’s statement, Chinese and Russian forces recently patrolled the western and northern Pacific Ocean and the drills had nothing to do with international and regional situations and didn’t target any third party.

The exercises would include anti-missile exercises, sea strikes and air defense, state broadcaster CCTV reported Saturday.

The joint exercises aim to “demonstrate the resolve and capabilities of the two sides in jointly addressing maritime security threats and preserving global and regional peace and stability,” the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Friday, adding that it would “further deepen the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era”.

Xinhua News Agency reported the two countries' naval forces carried out on-map military simulation and tactical coordination exercises after the opening ceremony in Zhanjiang.

The exercises come amid tensions between the two countries and NATO over the war in Ukraine.

On Wednesday, a NATO communiqué, approved by the 32 members of the Western military alliance at their summit in Washington, labeled Beijing a “decisive enabler” of Russia in its ongoing war in Ukraine.

In response, China said NATO is seeking security at the expense of others, urging the alliance not to bring the same “chaos” to Asia.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry maintained that Beijing has a fair and objective stance on the war in Ukraine.

In February 2022, Russia launched what it called a special military operation in Ukraine partly to prevent NATO’s eastward expansion after warning that the military alliance was following an “aggressive line” against Moscow.

Moscow says the Western countries have been fueling the flames of the war with their unchecked delivery of weapons to Ukraine, warning that such a flow of weapons to Kiev will only prolong the conflict.


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