A fleet of seven Chinese warships will participate in joint eight-day naval drills with Russia in the Sea of Japan from Friday, raising concerns from Japan, which has maritime disputes with both countries.
Four destroyers, two frigates and a supply ship departed a military port in Qingdao, Shandong Province, Monday and headed to the Russian port of Vladivostok. The Xinhua News Agency reported that it will be the largest maneuver China has ever held with a foreign navy, as well as involving more live fire exercises than ever.
Eleven warships, a submarine and three planes from the Russian navy will also join the drills, which will focus on joint maritime air defense and joint escorts.
Fang Fenghui, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and his Russian counterpart Valery Gerasimov announced Monday that the "Joint Sea-2013" drills will take place in Peter the Great Bay in the Sea of Japan.
Li Jie, a military expert, told the Global Times that the drills will help the two countries reinforce security cooperation in Northeast Asia and Western Pacific in joint defense, ensuring the security of sea lanes, and tackling future crises.
The drills are not targeting any third party, and are meant to enhance both countries' capability in coordinating operations, so that they can play a positive role in safeguarding regional security, Fang said.
But Japan is uneasy at the first-ever Sino-Russian naval drills being held in waters close to its territory. The Tokyo-based news portal ribenxinwen.com Tuesday quoted an unidentified Japanese defense ministry official as saying that Japan's Self Defense Force will closely follow the drills.
The official said though Moscow has agreed to negotiate with Japan over the issue of the Northern Territories, known as the Southern Kuriles in Russia, its maneuvers with Beijing seem to indicate that "China and Russia will join hands in safeguarding the sovereignty of the islands," which will make the situation more sensitive.
Li said the drills aim to safeguard security in East Asia, the Sea of Japan and its surrounding waters.
Zhao Huasheng, director of the Center for Russia and Central Asia Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times that Moscow shares a common view with Beijing in safeguarding the outcome of victory in World War II. "However, the drills are more of a symbol of political support to China instead of an indication that Russia would step in to assist China should a conflict break out for the Diaoyu Islands," he said.
Meanwhile, "Peace Mission-2013," a joint anti-terrorism military drill between China and Russia, will be held in Russia's Chelyabinsk from July 27 to August 15.