Russia and China play WAR: Destroyers descend on Kaliningrad for major Baltic Sea drills
RUSSIA will take part in massive military drills commencing this week as China sends one of its most advanced missile destroyers to the Baltic coast.
China Russia war games: Military drills to kick off in the Baltic Sea this week
Elite forces from both nations will descend on European borders as they conduct war games with their most fierce machinery.
The Joint Sea 2017 naval drills were confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry ahead of the start of the Baltic phase of the exercise, on Friday.
A dozen warships, helicopters and other military aircraft will be involved in the display of military prowess.
China's navy with Type 052D guided missile destroyer Changsha
The main goals of the exercises are to increase the efficiency in cooperation between the two fleets in countering security threats at sea, to train compatibility of the crews of Russian and Chinese warships
The Russian ministry said: “The main goals of the exercises are to increase the efficiency in cooperation between the two fleets in countering security threats at sea, to train compatibility of the crews of Russian and Chinese warships, to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the Russian Navy and the Naval Forces of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.”
Baltiysk in Russia's Kaliningrad region will play host to the Chinese naval forces on July 21 for an official welcoming ceremony.
Then, the drills which have taken place between the two nations since 2012, will kick off between July 24 and 27.
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Early reports the Chinese have deployed the Changsha, the second advanced Type 052D guided missile destroyer, will be closely tested as the troops set sail.
The missile frigate Yuncheng and the Luoma Lake supply ship are also tipped for deployment to Russia.
Live-fire drills took place in the Mediterranean, last week, as the Chinese fleet made its way to the Baltic.
Following the exercises the Chinese Navy will join Russian ships in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk in September where the second phase of the Russian-Chinese exercises will begin.
Finland has spoken out against coming exercises as Russia prepares for the Zapad 2017 military exercise, the largest since the end of the cold war.
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Zapad 2017 will involve thousands of troops, hundreds of pieces of military equipment.
Russian troops, directed by Moscow, will carry out drills close to the Finnish borders and unease is spreading.
In Europe, Nato allies fear President Vladimir Putin’s true intentions leading to ”serious doubts Moscow is revealing the true extent of its military exercises”.
In 2016 the drills between President Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping’s countries even descended into the South China Sea - one of the most contested stretches in the world.