Russian media said that China’s naval formation crossed the Black Sea and participated in a military parade at the Russian military port on the 9 th.

China’s naval formation crossed the Black Sea.

　　　　　　　　According to Russian media reports, the two latest China missile frigates "Linyi" and "Weifang" sailed into the Bosphorus Strait in the Black Sea on the 4th, and will go to the Novorossiysk military port in Russia to attend the military parade before the 9th, and then they will conduct cooperative course drills with the Russian navy in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

　　　　　　　　This also means that on May 9th, the honor guard of the People’s Liberation Army of China and the naval formation will hold a military parade on land and at sea in Russia at the same time, highlighting the unprecedented warm bilateral relations between the Chinese and Russian armed forces.

Cruise the Black Sea for the third time.

　　　　　　　　As early as the beginning of this month, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced that China’s naval formation would enter the Black Sea and arrive at Novorossiysk military port on the coast of the Black Sea before the 9th, and the navies of the two countries would jointly hold a military parade and get-together at the festival. According to photos taken by foreign netizens on the 4th, the 19th escort formation of the China Navy, the two frigates, entered the Black Sea through the Bosphorus Strait. During the passage, China warships raised the Turkish flag and put on a salute.

　　　　　　　　This is the third time that China’s naval fleet has entered the Black Sea. In 2012 and 2014, China’s naval fleet visited Ukraine, Romania and Iran through the Black Sea.

　　　　　　　　In fact, for the Black Sea, the domestic people are no strangers. This vast sea area adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea is the dividing line between Europe and Asia. It has always been a battleground for military strategists, and the political situation is unpredictable. After the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis, NATO and Russia have conducted military exercises in this sea area many times to show their muscles to each other. In July 1999, when the aircraft carrier Varyag passed through the Strait, it was stopped by the Turkish government and forcibly ordered the Varyag to return to the Black Sea "at the reminder of a third country". Then in August, the Varyag tried to cross the strait again, but failed, so it had to drift in the Black Sea.

　　　　　　　　After the military parade at sea, the Chinese and Russian navies will go to the Mediterranean for joint exercises for the first time.

　　　　　　　　The Information Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense of China and Russia has previously announced this information. According to the annual exchange plan between the Chinese and Russian armed forces, the navies of the two countries will hold a joint military exercise codenamed "Maritime Joint -2015(1)" in the Mediterranean Sea in mid-May. China and Russia will send a total of nine surface ships to participate in the exercise. Among them, China sent Linyi, Weifang and Weishan Lake, which carried out the 19th escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters, to participate in the exercise.

　　　　　　　　The topic of this exercise is to maintain the safety of navigation in the open sea. The main subjects include maritime defense, maritime replenishment, escort action, joint action to ensure shipping safety and practical use of weapons drills. The purpose is to deepen friendly and pragmatic cooperation between China and Russia and enhance the ability of the two navies to jointly respond to maritime security threats. Geng Yansheng, spokesman of China’s Ministry of National Defense, said earlier that the joint military exercise was not aimed at a third party and had nothing to do with the regional situation.

　　　　　　　　This joint exercise has attracted great attention from the western media. The New York Times said that although the scale of this Mediterranean exercise is relatively limited, it is also the farthest exercise of China’s navy from the mainland. This article claims that this indicates that the strategic partnership between China and Russia has been upgraded.

　　　　　　　　James James Hardy, Asia-Pacific editor of Jane’s Defense Weekly, said that the fact that China’s navy is willing to conduct military exercises so far away from home shows that it has new confidence in its capabilities.

　　　　　　　　The report also mentioned that China’s navy had carried out operations in the Mediterranean in the past, the most famous being that after the fall of Gaddafi in 2011, China warships helped rescue more than 30,000 China workers trapped in Libya. China also dispatched frigates in 2013 and 2014 to escort ships that removed Syrian chemical weapons stockpiles.

China and Russia or the largest exercise in the Sea of Japan in September

　　　　　　　　It is worth noting that the recent high-level exchanges between the Chinese and Russian military are also very close.

　　　　　　　　Earlier, China media reported that, following the China Army’s honor guards’ participation in the Red Square military parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the anti-fascist victory on May 9 this year, Fan Changlong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, will also arrive in Moscow in advance to attend the visit of the Supreme Leader of president. Russian Defense Ministry sources said that after the Supreme Leader’s visit to Moscow ended on May 10th, Fan Changlong will officially start his visit, and Russian Defense Minister shoigu will meet with him, including military equipment experts.

　　　　　　　　Just a month ago, China’s Defense Minister Chang Wanquan just visited the Russian Federation. And met with Russian Defense Minister shoigu. The latter said that Russia was satisfied with the level of joint exercises between the two countries last year, and plans to hold military exercises this year, and the scale will become larger and larger. In May last year, the Russian guided missile cruiser Varyag, destroyer Kuai, large anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleyev, large landing ship Admiral Nie Velisco, medium-sized oil tanker Ilim and tugboat caral formed a formation and sailed into the East China Sea for a five-day joint exercise with six warships of the China People’s Liberation Army.

　　　　　　　　Russian media also quoted Russian naval experts as saying that before September 3, the Russian and Chinese navies will hold the largest joint surface and underwater cooperative combat exercise in the Sea of Japan.

Selling 054A frigates to Russia?

　　　　　　　　Western media also speculated that this time China sent the latest 054A missile frigate to Russia, perhaps because it wanted to promote China’s naval frigate to Russia. In recent years, China’s navy and China’s shipbuilding industry have achieved rapid development, and several new warships are launched almost every year. In contrast, Russia’s surface power in the huge Far East ocean area is insufficient. If there are new warships to be installed, there is a lack of suitable warships to escort them. Although the Russian shipbuilding industry is accelerating, it is facing difficulties for various reasons. Especially with the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis, the orderly work of many shipyards was greatly affected because Ukraine withdrew its operation team.

　　　　　　　　Earlier, some Russian experts suggested that Russia might temporarily purchase China’s Type 054A frigate, thus freeing up resources for developing new warships in the longer term.

　　　　　　　　However, Navy Eric Wilhelm told the US Naval Academy News Network (USNI) that since China’s shipbuilding technology has benefited from Russia for a long time, it would be a little embarrassing if Russia bought China’s equipment instead.