To deepen China-Russia naval partnership, military exercises will be held together, know what is the purpose

Several Russian warships will take part in naval drills with Beijing's navy this week amid pressure from the West to deepen ties between Russia and China. The exercise, aimed at "strengthening naval cooperation" between Moscow and Beijing, will take place in the East China Sea from December 21 to 27, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

China says Sino-Russian naval exercises starting Wednesday are aimed at deepening cooperation between the sides, whose unofficial anti-Western alliance has gained strength since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. 

The Russian Defense Ministry said the Varyag missile cruiser, the Marshal Shaposhnikov destroyer and two corvettes from Russia's Pacific Fleet would take part in the exercise. The ministry reported that the Chinese navy plans to deploy several surface warships and a submarine for the exercise. 

In September, China sent more than 2,000 troops along with more than 300 military vehicles, 21 fighter jets and three warships to participate in extensive joint exercises with Russia.

Russia has in turn strongly supported China amid tensions with the US over Taiwan.

China also sent a squadron of navy ships through the strait near Japan in the western Pacific last week as Beijing positions itself to be more aggressive, adopting a new national security strategy from Tokyo. As a result of the perceived threat from China.