据俄罗斯今日电视台19日报道，俄罗斯国防部证实，中俄两国海军将派出军舰在地中海举行海上演习，两国的海军舰艇目前都在帮助叙利亚运送化学武器。

这一决定是俄罗斯“彼得大帝”号核动力巡洋舰军官登访中国护卫舰“盐城号”时商定的。演习的主要目标在于反恐和加强海上协作能力，俄国防部解释。

英国白宫（国防部）和美国五角大楼发言人先后表示反对，英国国防部发言人麦科马克称：”中俄不应该在敏感时间和敏感地点举行任何形式的军事演练，英国会密切关注中俄的军事动向。”

China and Russia may hold joint naval drill in the Mediterranean
Published time: January 19, 2014 03:09 Get short URL
Image from mod.gov.cn / Li Xiao and Hu QuanfuImage from mod.gov.cn / Li Xiao and Hu Quanfu

Tags
China, Meeting, Military, Navy, Russia
Russia and China have agreed to conduct a joint naval drill in the Mediterranean Sea, a Russian media report cites the Defense Ministry. The countries’ fleets are currently involved in an intl operation to escort the Syrian chemical weapons stockpile.

The Defense Ministry said on Sunday that group of Russian naval officers deployed onboard a heavy nuclear missile cruiser "Peter the Great" visited Chinese frigate Yancheng. 

“On board the Chinese patrol ship, Russian sailors discussed with their foreign counterparts the possibility of joint tactical exercises in the Mediterranean Sea. Under the agreement, such exercises can be carried out in the near future in an effort to improve the level of operational compatibility between Russian and Chinese warships during joint operations in the eastern Mediterranean,” the statement from the Ministry of Defense said. 

The main aim of the joint naval exercise would be to increase the level of operational cooperation between the two navies designed to tackle terrorist threats and improve joint rescue operations at sea, the Ministry explained. 

On January 7, both counties escorted the first consignment of Syrian chemical weapons materials that has left the country on a Danish ship. This became the first practical interaction between the Russian and the Chinese navies.

Image from mod.gov.cn / Li Xiao and Hu Quanfu

The Chinese Department of Defense noted that Captain Pyshklov, commanding officer of the Mediterranean Combat Group of the Russian Navy, praised the performance of the Yancheng during the escort operation, while his counterpart, Li Pengcheng spoke highly of the important role the Russian Navy played in the escort operation for the ships transporting Syria’s chemical weapons. 

In July, Russia and China held a three-day joint naval military exercise. The “Naval Interaction-2013" in the open waters off the Port of Vladivostok became China’s largest overseas military exercises in terms of the number of troops deployed outside its territorial waters. Seven Chinese warships including four destroyers, two frigates and one comprehensive supply ship took part in the war games. 

Both Russian and Chinese ships have polished their skills in joint air-defense and maritime replenishment. They have also practiced tackling submarine threats and tested their skills in joint escort and in rescuing a hijacked ship while shooting maritime targets. 

Russia and China have regularly held joint naval drills since 2005 within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. However, “Naval Interaction-2013" was only the second exercise conducted outside the SCO: the first was held in April 2012. 

In recent years, the Chinese navy has participated in a series of joint exercises in the Pacific and Indian oceans, while Chinese ground forces have taken part in land war games organized by the SCO.
http://rt.com/news/russia-china-naval-drills-838/