China, Russia navies to hold navy drill in South China Sea

BEIJING - China and Russia will stage an eight-day Navy drill in the South China Sea off southern China's Guangdong province starting Monday, a Chinese Navy spokesperson said Sunday.

The drill, "Joint Sea-2016," will feature Navy surface ships, submarines, fixed-wing aircraft, ship-borne helicopters marine corps and amphibious armored equipment from both navies, according to spokesperson Liang Yang.

Most of the Chinese participants will come from the Nanhai Fleet under the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

Together, Chinese and Russian participants will undertake defense, rescue, and anti-submarine operations, in addition to joint island seizing and other activities, Liang said.

The marine corps, in particular, will carry out live-fire drills, sea crossing and island landing operations, and island defense and offense exercises among others, he said.