As if things are not tense enough regarding the South China Sea, Report indicates that Russia will be holding joint naval exercises with China in this region in September as tensions escalate over the fiercely contested islands. According to the China’s Defence Ministry, it is insisting the “routine” drills were aimed at strengthening their co-operation and were not aimed at any other country.
Excerpt From The Sun:
These drills come at a time of heightened tensions in the region after a UN-backed tribunal ruled this month that China did not have historic rights to the waters. China rejected the ruling and refused to participate in the case. “This is a routine exercise between the two armed forces, aimed at strengthening the developing China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership,” China’s defense ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told a news conference. “The exercise is not directed against third parties.”
