China, Russia to hold drill in South China Sea: Beijing

China and Russia will conduct a joint naval drill in the South China Sea in September, a senior Chinese military official says.

Yang Yujun, the Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman, made the announcement on Thursday, saying the exercises will be carried out in the “relevant sea and air of the South China Sea.”

He added that the joint drill is “routine” and “does not target any third party.”

The South China Sea is the subject of a territorial dispute between China and several regional countries.

Recently, a Hague-based court of arbitration ruled that China’s claim of sovereignty over disputed areas in the sea or its resources had no legal basis. The case had been filed by the Philippines, whose economic and sovereign rights, according to the court, have been violated by Beijing.

China has dismissed the ruling, saying it does not recognize the tribunal’s arbitration in the dispute.

SS