China, Russia conduct joint naval exercises Joint Sea-2016 in South China Sea

China and Russia have carried out joint naval exercises dubbed as Joint Sea-2016 in the resource-rich South China Sea (SCS) off China’s southern Guangdong province.
The exercises follow a spike in tensions after Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague rejected China’s claims in the SCS and slammed it for causing environmental damage there.
Key Facts

• The eight-day naval exercises (from September 13 to 19) were held in a non-disputed area in SCS off China’s southern Guangdong province.
• It had featured surface ships, missile destroyer, anti-submarine vessels, missile frigates, ship-based helicopters and conventional submarines among others from both navies.
• The vessels were divided into two fleets and confrontations were staged off the eastern waters of Zhanjiang in Guangdong which is close to Chinese coast.
• Both sides had undertaken defence, anti-submarine operations and rescue operations in addition to joint island seizing and other activities
• They had carried out live-fire drills, sea crossing and island landing operations, and island defence and offence exercises among other.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2016