{"id":28513,"date":"2019-04-30T18:36:48","date_gmt":"2019-04-30T18:36:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/04\/30\/never-a-dull-day-in-the-western-pacific\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:19:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:19:58","slug":"never-a-dull-day-in-the-western-pacific","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/04\/30\/never-a-dull-day-in-the-western-pacific\/","title":{"rendered":"Never a dull day in the western Pacific"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BEIJING \u2014 This is a weekly look at developments in the South China Sea and nearby waters, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CHINA, RUSSIA PREPARE FOR JOINT NAVAL EXERCISES<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Russian naval task force has arrived in the northern Chinese port of Qingdao<\/a> ahead of joint naval exercises this week that reinforce the growing bond between Beijing and Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the drills, the sides will practice maneuvering and communicating and, \u201cperform missile launches and deliver artillery fire at sea and air targets as well as practice search and rescue operations,\u201d Russia\u2019s state news agency Tass reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Russian squadron is led by the guided-missile cruiser Varyag and also comprises the large landing ships Oslyabya, Admiral Vinogradov and Admiral Tributs, along with the corvette Sovershenny, salvage tug Igor Belousov and sea tanker Irkut, Tass said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On April 26, Russian President Vladimir Putin, front left, and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, front center, arrived for the welcome banquet at the Belt and Road Forum at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (Nicolas Asfouri\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

China has said the exercise will involve a total of 13 surface ships, 2 submarines, 7 fighter jets, 4 helicopters, and a unit of 80 marines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tass said aircraft from the Chinese naval aviation force would take part, along with diesel electric submarines from both sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bonded by a common rivalry with the U.S., Moscow and Beijing have forged what they describe as a \u201cstrategic partnership,\u201d expressing their shared opposition to the \u201cunipolar\u201d world \u2014 a term they use to describe perceived U.S. global dominance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia has also offered rhetorical support for China\u2019s position on its claims in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last September, about 3,200 Chinese troops joined Russia\u2019s largest-ever war games in Siberia, in which nearly 300,000 Russian troops conducted drills.<\/p>\n\n\n\t