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MOSCOW, Dec. 22 (AP) — Russian and Chinese warships conducted joint operations in the East China Sea on Thursday, continuing a series of exercises that reflect growing defense cooperation between the two countries.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the guided-missile cruiser Varyag, the destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov and two frigates of Russia’s Pacific Fleet took part in the drills, which began on Wednesday.
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China deployed two destroyers, a diesel submarine and several other ships for the exercises.
Russian and Chinese aircraft also took part in the week-long exercise, which included shooting drills and anti-submarine drills, according to the defense ministry.
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“The main objective of the exercise is to strengthen naval cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China and maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region,” the ministry said.
Military ties between Moscow and Beijing have grown stronger since Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine on February 24.
China, which has declared an “unrestricted” friendship with Russia, has explicitly rejected criticism of Moscow’s actions, accusing the US and NATO of provoking the Kremlin and slamming punitive sanctions imposed on Russia.
Russia, in turn, strongly supports China amid tensions with the United States over Taiwan.
In November, Russian Air Force Tu-95 bombers and Chinese H-6K bombers conducted joint patrols in the Sea of ​​Japan and the East China Sea.
Russian bombers landed in China for the first time as part of the exercise, and Chinese bombers flew to a Russian air base.
In September, China sent more than 2,000 soldiers, more than 300 military vehicles, 21 fighter jets and 3 warships to participate in a large-scale Sino-Russian joint exercise. (Associated Press)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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