Russia and China have completed a naval exercise in the Yellow Sea, off the coast of Qingdao in eastern China, a Russian Navy commander said on Thursday.
“Russian and Chinese warships have completely fulfilled the concept of the exercise in an efficient manner,” Rear Admiral Leonid Sukhanov, deputy chief of the Navy Main Staff, said.
The exercise, which officially ends on Friday, has involved more than 20 Russian and Chinese warships and support vessels.
The Russian Navy was represented by the guided missile cruiser Varyag, and three large antisubmarine ships including, the Admiral Vinogradov, the Marshal Shaposhnikov and the Admiral Tributs, as well as and the SB-522, MB-37 and Pechenga supply ships.
The active phase of the exercise comprised several missions, including rescue of a hijacked ship, commercial vessel escort, and defending a convoy from air and sea attacks.
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Tuesday the exercise is not directed against “third states” and is not an attempt by Moscow and Beijing to forge a military alliance.
