Chinese - Russian Navies To Hold First Joint Mediterranean Exercise

Russian destroyers at a port in Shanghai during the China-Russia joint military exercises held last year, May 18, 2014. (File photo/ Xinhua)

Voice of America/Reuters: China, Russia to Hold First Joint Mediterranean Naval Drills

BEIJING - China will hold joint naval drills with Russia in mid-May in the Mediterranean Sea, the first time the two countries will hold military exercises together in that part of the world, the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

China and Russia have held naval drills in Pacific waters since 2012. The May maneuvers come as the United States ramps up military cooperation with its allies in Asia in response to China's increasingly assertive pursuit of maritime territorial claims.

A total of nine ships from the two countries will participate, including vessels China now has on anti-piracy patrols in waters off Somalia, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng told a monthly news briefing.

Update: China-Russia Navies Planning First Joint Mediterranean Maneuvers -- Epoch Times/AP

WNU Editor: This is a follow-up on their agreement from 2 weeks ago to expand their joint military exercises .... China, Russia to upgrade joint military exercises (WantChinaTimes)