China and Russia conduct joint naval drill

BBC News reports: “China and Russia are beginning joint naval drills which Beijing has described as the country’s largest with a foreign partner.

The drills, which are taking place in the Sea of Japan, last from 5-12 July.

People’s Liberation Army chief Gen Fang Fenghui said the drills did not ‘target any third parties’, but aimed to deepen ties with Russia.

However they come amid tensions with regional neighbours including Japan and the Philippines over maritime disputes.

China has overlapping claims with Tokyo and Manila in the East China and South China Sea respectively – something which has led to a marked deterioration in ties in recent years as China has pressed its claim more assertively.

Last month the US and Japanese navies held joint exercises off San Diego…” (China and Russia become headlines in the final war – Armageddon – Revelation 16:16. The first invasion is headed by Russia, aligned with an Islamic group of nations, one being Iran – Ezekiel 38:1, 2, 5, 8, 16. The second invasion is headed up by China and the left over armies of Russia and Islam – Daniel 11:44; Revelation 16:12; and Revelation 9:14 – 18. The third and final invasion is when all nations converge upon Jerusalem and Christ returns to end the battle and set up His kingdom in Jerusalem – Zechariah 14:2, 4; and Luke 1:32, and 33. See the next report.)

Iran, Russia Plan Joint Naval Drills in Caspian Sea

The Fars News Agency reports: “Iran and Russia plan to conduct joint naval exercises in the Caspian Sea before the end of 2013, a senior Russian Navy commander announced.

Deputy Commander of Russia’s Caspian Flotilla Nikolai Yakubovsky made the announcement after meeting with the Commander of the Iranian navy flotilla that has been dispatched to the Russian port city of Astrakhan.

The two countries conducted their first joint naval maneuvers in the Caspian Sea in 2009. A total of 30 Iranian and Russian warships participated in the joint exercises.

Iran and Russia have recently expanded their military cooperation and interactions. The Iranian Navy sent a flotilla of warships to Astrakhan.

‘Two missile-launching warships which have been manufactured by the young Iranian experts and joined the Navy’s fleet in 2003 and 2006 were for the first time dispatched to the Russian port of Astrakhan in the form of a flotilla,’ Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Navy Admiral Siyavash Jarreh announced.

He further mentioned ‘consolidation of the friendly relations between Iran and Russia’ as the goal of the Iranian flotilla’s mission, adding that the Navy also aims to display the might and increased knowledge and experience of its young personnel…”