China, Russia start joint air, sea drill in Sea of Japan

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A Chinese naval flotilla set off on Sunday to join Russian naval and air forces in the Sea of Japan in an exercise codenamed “Northern/Interaction-2023” and aimed at “safeguarding the security of strategic waterways”, said to China’s defence ministry.

The Chinese flotilla comprised of five warships and four ship-borne helicopters, left the eastern port of Qingdao and will rendezvous with Russian forces in a “predetermined area”, the ministry said. 

On Saturday, the ministry said that Russia will dispatch naval and air forces to participate in “Northern/Interaction-2023” drills in the central region of the Sea of Japan organized by the PLA Northern Theater Command.