BEIJING: The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that Chinese and Russian navies are conducting joint patrols in the Pacific Ocean, strengthening military and diplomatic ties between Moscow and Beijing as their ties with the West deteriorate.
According to a ministry announcement posted on messaging app Telegram, crews from both sides were engaged in joint tactical maneuvers and training with artillery and helicopters.
According to the statement, the patrol's duties include maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, monitoring coastal areas and protecting Russian and Chinese maritime economic sites.
In his first foreign trip in more than two years, Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Uzbekistan on Thursday to discuss, among other topics, Taiwan and Ukraine.
The West is concerned about the geopolitical implications of an expanding "no borders" alliance between the world's biggest natural resource exporter Russia and an emerging superpower China.
In October last year, Russian and Chinese warships patrolled the western Pacific Ocean for the first time. Japan observed the maneuvers closely and termed them as "unusual".
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