China, Russia Hold Joint Military Drill in East China Sea

The naval forces of China and Russia have launched a one-week joint exercise off the coast of the Chinese Zhejiang Province in the East China Sea. “This joint exercise is directed at demonstrating the determination and capability of the two sides to jointly respond to maritime security threats… and further deepen the China-Russia comprehensive new-era strategic partnership of coordination,” China’s Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army said in a short statement posted on Monday. The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement also posted on Monday that the warships involved in the joint naval exercise included the Varyag…