international desk: Russian warships set off Monday to take part in a joint naval drill with China, an exercise that showcases increasingly close defense ties between the two countries as they face tensions with the United States.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the Varyag missile cruiser, the Marshal Shaposhnikov destroyer and two corvettes of Russia’s Pacific Fleet would take part in maneuvers in the East China Sea starting Wednesday.
The ministry said the Chinese navy planned to deploy several surface warships and a submarine for the exercise. Russian and Chinese aircraft will also take part in the drills, according to the ministry.
Moscow and Beijing have displayed their growing military cooperation in recent months.
