Russian and Chinese warships conduct first joint patrols in the Pacific Ocean
Russian and Chinese warships conducted their first joint patrols in the western part of the Pacific Ocean on October 17-23, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
The two countries held naval cooperation exercises in the Sea of Japan earlier in October and have strengthened their military and diplomatic ties in recent years at a time when their relations with the West have soured.
Japan has closely monitored the naval exercises and said last week that a group of 10 ships from China and Russia had crossed the Tsugaru Strait that separates Japan’s main island from the northern island of Hokkaido.
“The group of ships crossed the Tsugaru Strait for the first time in the framework of patrols”, the Russian Defense Ministry said in the statement.
The strait is considered international waters.
The ministry added that “the tasks of these patrols are to demonstrate the sciences of the countries of Russia and China, to maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and to protect the areas of maritime economic activities of the two countries”.
