Chinese and Russian fleets have been assembled for a joint naval exercise in waters of the East China Sea scheduled for December 21 to 27. The exercise unfolds in three stages – emergency assembly, joint operation and withdrawal, according to the command of the Chinese fleet.

The Chinese navy planned to deploy several surface warships and a submarine for the exercise. The Russian forces include the guided missile cruiser Varyag, the anti-submarine ship Marshal Shaposhnikov, corvettes Sovershenny and Soobrazitelny, and the supply ship Pechenga.