China and Russia start joint naval drills

China and Russia’s naval forces have kicked off a joint exercise at a military port in southern China (Russian defence ministry Press Service via AP)

Chinese and Russian naval forces have begun a joint exercise at a military port in southern China, days after Nato allies called Beijing a “decisive enabler” of the war in Ukraine.

The Chinese defence ministry said forces from both sides recently patrolled the western and northern Pacific Ocean, and that the operation had nothing to do with international and regional situations.