China has deployed 16 ships and two submarines for the drill. This includes five missile destroyers, five missile frigates, four missile boats, a support vessel and a hospital ship. They’ll be accompanied by 13 aircraft and five shipboard helicopters.
The Russian contingent, four warships from their Pacific Fleet plus three supply ships, left their home port in Vladivostok on April 15. They are being led by ’Varyag’, the flagship of the Russian Pacific Fleet.
China says the exercise will focus on joint maritime air defense, anti-submarine tactics, maritime search and rescue as well as joint efforts to rescue hijacked vessels. The two navies will also deploy aircraft and special force units to conduct joint maritime anti-terror drills during the exercise.
Since 2005, China and Russia have conducted several joint military exercises within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.