China and Russia will hold joint naval exercises in the East China Sea later this month.
The Chinese Defense Ministry said on May 1 that the "Jointly At Sea 2014" maneuvers will be held off the coast of Shanghai in late May.
The drills are described as "regular exercises" and follow similar maneuvers off the coast of Russia's Far East held in 2013.
China and Japan are currently locked in a dispute over a small uninhabited string of islets in the East China Sea -- administered by Japan where they are known as the Senkaku Islands.
China refers to them as the Diaoyu Islands.
The row peaked in 2012 when Tokyo bought some more islands in the archipelago.
China also angered many countries when it said in December that it was establishing an air-defense zone above the disputed islands.
The Chinese Defense Ministry said on May 1 that the "Jointly At Sea 2014" maneuvers will be held off the coast of Shanghai in late May.
The drills are described as "regular exercises" and follow similar maneuvers off the coast of Russia's Far East held in 2013.
China and Japan are currently locked in a dispute over a small uninhabited string of islets in the East China Sea -- administered by Japan where they are known as the Senkaku Islands.
China refers to them as the Diaoyu Islands.
The row peaked in 2012 when Tokyo bought some more islands in the archipelago.
China also angered many countries when it said in December that it was establishing an air-defense zone above the disputed islands.
