In a further show of
support, Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to attend commemorations of the
70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Moscow on May 9. Most Western leaders are
staying away from the event featuring a massive military parade, in which a
112-strong honor guard from the Chinese army, navy and air force will also take
part.
The two nation's
militaries have increased their joint training operations in recent years,
sometimes under the aegis of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional
grouping formed partly to counter U.S.
influence in Central Asia .
In other remarks
Thursday, Geng harshly questioned a revision of the U.S.-Japan defense
guidelines that will allow Japan 's
military to play a bigger role in global military operations and work more
closely with U.S.
forces.
"A military
alliance is an outdated product that goes against the trend of the times
characterized by peace, development, cooperation and win-win," Geng said.
"What kind of
impact will it have on world and regional peace and stability to beef up the
U.S.-Japan military alliance and expand their defense cooperation to the whole
world? This is a question that needs to be asked by all sides," he said.
The latest drills
with Russia are a further
extension of China 's
drive to build a true "blue water navy" able to operate for long
periods and at vast distances from home ports.
In 2011, it took
the unprecedented step of sending one of its most sophisticated warships
together with military transport aircraft to help in the evacuation of about
35,000 Chinese citizens from Libya .
Early this April, China
detached three navy ships from the anti-piracy patrols to rescue Chinese
citizens and other foreign nationals from fighting in Yemen .
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