CHINA-RUSSIA: PLA NAVY IN BLACK SEA
|
China's official Global Times reported that internet users in Turkey uploaded pictures of the PLA Navy's 19th Naval Escort Task Force, consisting of a Type 903 replenishment ship and two Type 054A guided-missile frigates, entering the Black Sea through the Bosphorus on May 4, 2015. The Beijing-based Sina Military Network quoted the Russian defense ministry as announcing that the Chinese warships are expected to arrive at the port of Novorossiysk before May 9, the day that a military parade will be held in Moscow to celebrate the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe 70 years ago. President Xi Jinping of China has accepted an invitation from President Vladimir Putin of Russia to attend the event. The PLA task force will then sail for the Mediterranean together with the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy at Novorossiysk to carry out air defense, anti-submarine and escort drills as part of the Joint Sea 2015 exercise. A Russian expert said a similar joint exercise will be held in the Sea of Japan in September — timed to coincide with China's celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender and the end of WWII in the Pacific.
Fan Changlong, Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission, will begin an official visit to Moscow on May 10, after Xi Jinping returns to Beijing. He is scheduled to meet Russian Defense Minister, Sergey Shoygu, to discuss the purchase of more advanced weapons and hardware from Russia as well as defense cooperation.
|