China, Russia to hold joint exercises in S. China Sea

China and Russia will hold joint naval exercises in the South China Sea (SCS).

• It is a eight-day Navy drill in the South China Sea off southern China’s Guangdong Province.

About:

The drill, “Joint Sea-2016,” will feature Navy surface ships, submarines, fixed-wing aircraft, ship-borne helicopters marine corps and amphibious armoured equipment from both navies.

• Most of the Chinese participants will come from the Nanhai Fleet under the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
• The two sides will undertake defence, rescue, and anti-submarine operations, in addition to joint island seizing and other activities, the spokesperson observed.

Background:

The exercises follow a spike in tensions after an arbitration court in The Hague rejected China’s claims in the SCS, and slammed it for causing environmental damage there.

• China has rejected the ruling in a government white paper that was released in the aftermath of the Award.