According to the People's Liberation Army Navy, China and Russia have held an eight-day war game series at the South China Sea. Beijing's official navy website has announced that the massive military exercise will be code named "Joint Sea-2016." Both countries have joined forces in practicing defense, rescue and anti-submarine operations including island-seizing demonstrations.
Russia has dispatched three warships, two supply vessels, two helicopters, armored amphibious tanks and close to a hundred military personnel for the drill. China, on the other hand, has participated with 13 sea vessels, 11 fixed-wing aircrafts, eight choppers, two submarines plus 160 marine personnel. Chinese military officials have described the war games as a strategic measure intended to increase military and naval cooperation.
Marines have participated in live-fire exercises, defense and landing maneuvers in what has been cited as the largest joint military cooperation between the naval forces of two countries. It must be noted that China has already announced the planned drills in July prior to the escalation of the South China Sea conflict.
The operations have been carried near the city of Zhanjiang in Southern Guangzhou Province and North of Hainan Island where China's main regional military base is located.
In the wake of increased pressure by the US and its allies, Beijing is currently facing an uphill battle with regards to The Hague's international tribunal ruling which invalidates China's claim at the oil and gas-rich disputed territories where around $5 trillion-worth of ship-borne trade pass through annually.
In recent weeks, China has planned to reclaim the Scarborough Shoal and proceed with its island-building operations despite the warning made by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte that a bloody conflict will ensure should Beijing insist on its demands.
According to China's Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun, the routine exercise between the two armed forces is aimed at strengthening China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership. It is not directed against third parties.
Meanwhile, leading American think-tanks including the RAND Corporation have started laying out the template for a war with China through its major publications which openly lobby for pre-emptive military actions against the giant nation.
