China, Russia navies stage air defense, anti-submarine drill

Chinese frigate "Huangshan" and Russian Navy's Antisubmarine Ship "Admiral Tributs" sail to a target area during a China-Russia naval joint drill at sea off south China's Guangdong Province, Sept. 16, 2016. Chinese and Russian fleets conducted joint operation exercise off Guangdong Province in the South China Sea during the "Joint Sea 2016" drill on Friday. The drill, starting on Sept. 12, will run until Sept. 19, consisting of three phases: preparation at port, exercise at sea and summary. (Xinhua/Zha Chunming)

ABOARD WARSHIP GUANGZHOU, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Russian naval forces on Saturday carried out a joint drill on air defense and anti-submarine in the South China Sea off southern China's Guangdong Province.

Vessels including a missile destroyer, anti-submarine vessels, missile frigates, ship-based helicopters and conventional submarines, among others, took part in the exercise.

The vessels were divided into two fleets and confrontations were staged off the eastern waters of Zhanjiang in Guangdong.

A senior officer of the joint drill said the exercise was carried out under a background of actual combat and expected aim of the exercise had been reached.

Chinese and Russian navies are currently holding the "Joint Sea-2016" drill that runs from Sept. 13 to 19.

It features navy surface ships, submarines, fixed-wing aircraft, ship-borne helicopters, marine corps and amphibious armored equipment from both sides.