CEP20050815021003 Moscow Nezavisimaya Gazeta in Russian 15 Aug 05 p 2

[Report by Viktor Myasnikov: "Landing at the Double. Scale of Russian-Chinese Exercises Much Greater Than Officially Stated"]

According to the official plan the first-ever Russian-Chinese exercises do not begin until 18 August, but by Sunday 14 August two Russian ships -- an ASW craft and a landing vessel -- had already left the Chinese port of Qingdao to rehearse elements of the joint maneuvers, namely weapons use, a landing operation, and a joint naval review. This was announced by exercises press center head Vyacheslav Sedov. A mock shore-landing assault on the coast at Lantai is planned for 15 August.
[Passage omitted]
According to the scenario the exercises entail an antiterrorist operation, so it is surprising that so many ships are taking part. After all, international terrorists do not as yet have a navy or strike aircraft. "Peace Mission-2005" has much more the look of a rehearsal for backing up a strategic landing operation.
It is also striking that the military departments of Russia and China are doing their utmost to play down and to disguise the true scale of the exercises. The 18-19 August first phase, for instance, is being presented as a staff training lesson. China has actually shown unprecedented openness. Legislative decisions ratifying the status of Russian service people on PRC territory have been made in short order, and a company of landing troops has been deployed in Qingdao in Chinese People's Liberation Army barracks. This suggests a serious interest on the Chinese side's part in the sphere of military cooperation. The contours of a new military bloc within the framework of the Shanghai Security Organization are emerging with increasing clarity.