Another post on John's Naval, Marine and other Service news
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China and Russia send joint force of 19 warships to Sea of Japan in largest ever naval exercise
China and Russia have launched what Beijing described as its "largest ever joint naval exercise" as an armada of military hardware descended on the Sea of Japan.
1:54PM BST 05 Jul 2013
30 CommentsChina and Russia have launched what Beijing described as its "largest ever joint naval exercise" as an armada of military hardware descended on the Sea of Japan.
A total of 18 surface vessels, including four guided missile destroyers, two missile frigates, a supply ship, and three ship-borne helicopters were due to take part, according to Chinese state media, as well as a submarine.
The move to deepen military ties between Moscow and Beijing with the operation, called "Joint Sea 2013", comes against the backdrop of territorial disputes in the region and will heighten fears of China's growing naval reach and ambition.
China's official news agency, Xinhua, described the drill as "the Chinese navy's single biggest deployment of military force in any joint foreign exercise."
Major General Yang Junfei, the Chinese fleet's commander, told Xinhua: "This is our strongest line-up ever in a joint naval drill." China was sending "seven ships, three helicopters and one special warfare unit", he added.
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