Last year, China and Russia held joint drills in the Sea of Japan, and a year before that in the East China Sea. “The key question will be where in the South China Sea the exercise occurs,” he said. China is locked in a longstanding dispute with Japan over claims to islands in the East China Sea. PhotoBEIJING — Russian naval forces plan to join Chinese forces for a joint exercise in the South China Sea, highlighting Moscow’s partnership with Beijing after a recent international legal ruling underlined rifts between China and Southeast Asian nations over rival claims across the sea. “Following a joint understanding reached between China and Russia, the navies of the two countries will hold a joint military exercise in the relevant sea and air areas of the South China Sea in September under the name Joint-Sea 2016,” Colonel Yang said.

Source: International New York Times July 29, 2016 04:07 UTC