BEIJING: China and Russia successfully wrapped up the four-day Northern/Interaction-2023 joint exercises in the Sea of Japan on Sunday and are expected to switch to the next phase of joint naval and air patrols in the Pacific Ocean.
Highly combat-oriented and practical, the drills displayed the two countries’ high level of military cooperation in the face of security threats, experts said on Monday.
A closing ceremony was held on board the Type 052D destroyer Qiqihar of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, which served as the command ship for the drills, the PLA Navy said in a press release on Monday. In the four days of intense joint military exercises, the naval and air forces from both countries completed multiple training objectives including sea-air integrated escort and deterrence expulsion, as they switched between joint formations and combat groups and practiced live fire surface-to-air shooting with ship-borne weapons systems, according to the press release. The drills met the expected goals of deepening mutual trust, enhancing friendship and boosting capabilities, the PLA Navy said.
“The exercises marked a major China-Russia joint combat operation in safeguarding the security of strategic maritime routes, as well as an important move in implementing the two militaries’ sea-air integrated joint capabilities,” said Rear Admiral Qiu Wensheng, the commander of the Northern/Interaction-2023 exercise.
The drills promoted the two countries’ strategic cooperation as well as the safeguarding of stability in Northeast Asia, Qiu said. Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Monday that the exercises practiced anti-sea mine, anti-aircraft, anti-ship and anti-submarine operations, which closely matched the theme of safeguarding strategic maritime routes. –The Daily Mail-Global Times news exchange item
