China-Russia naval drill not targeting 3rd party: China's defense ministry

BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The China-Russia Joint Sea-2015(II) exercise, a nine-day joint drill of Chinese and Russian navies, is not targeting any third party, Yang Yujun, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Defense said on Thursday.

The drill, which is being held on Aug. 20-28, is underway in the Peter the Great Gulf, waters off the Clerk Cape, and the Sea of Japan.

The joint military exercise aims to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia, and deepen the practical cooperation between the countries' armed forces, Yang said.

He also pointed out that Chinese and Russia navies want, through the war game, to improve the command ability of joint maritime transportation protection and joint landing missions, and further enhance their ability to jointly cope with maritime security threats.

Themed "Joint maritime transportation protection and joint landing missions", the drill focuses on joint air defense, joint anti-submarine and anti-ship missions, joint defense, joint landing missions and so on.

During the exercises, the two navies will also open their warships for each other to visit and hold various sport and cultural activities as well, Yang said.

Since 2005, the armed forces of the two countries have held many military exercises, which have already been institutionalized and normalized by the two countries. The China-Russia joint drills can help to promote peace and stability in the region and are not targeted at any third party, Yang said.