CHINA and Russia yesterday launched their first joint naval exercises, raising strange new dynamics in the balance of power in the region that has seen the US and India rattling sabres and tensions rise between China and its neighbours over territorial claims.
News of the exercises came as Japan splashed billions of dollars through the countries of the Mekong delta - Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Burma - to offset China's growing influence.
Included in Japan's beneficence was a separate cancellation of Burma's entire $3.5 billion debt to Tokyo.
The six days of Chinese-Russian drills are taking place in the Yellow Sea off the city of Qingdao in Shandong province on China's east coast, the official China News Service said.
China and Russia have held four joint military drills since 2005, but these are the first dedicated naval exercises, a Chinese expert said.
Yin Zhuo, who advises the Chinese navy, said the number of ships involved was unprecedented - China has 16 naval vessels and two submarines taking part in this exercise while Russia has four warships.
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