Chinese, Russian navies carry out joint drills in Sea of Japan

The Russian and Chinese navies are carrying out artillery and antisubmarine drills in the Sea of Japan as part of scheduled joint exercises, the Russian Pacific Fleet was quoted as saying on Sunday.

- 

The drills are taking place two days after US President Donald Trump said he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in “the appropriate regions” in response to remarks by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. However, they were scheduled well before Trump's action.

Medvedev, whose comments prompted Trump to move two nuclear submarines, was once seen as a liberal reformer but has become one of the Kremlin's most prominent anti-Western hawks.

Interfax news agency quoted the Pacific Fleet as saying Russian and Chinese vessels were moving in a joint detachment including a large Russian antisubmarine ship and two Chinese destroyers.

It said diesel-electric submarines from the two countries were also involved, as well as a Chinese submarine rescue ship.

The manoeuvres are part of exercises titled “Maritime Interaction-2025” which are scheduled to end on Tuesday.

Interfax said Russian and Chinese sailors would conduct artillery firing, practise antisubmarine and air defence missions, and improve joint search and rescue operations at sea.