3 Chinese Warships Sail Through Bosphorus Into the Black Sea

May 6, 2015

PLA task force enters Black Sea before Xi’s Russia visit

China’s 19th naval escort task force consisting of a Type 903 replenishment ship and two Type 054A guided-missile frigates entered the Black Sea through the Bosphorus on May 4 according to photos uploaded by internet users in Turkey, reports China’s Global Times.

The Russian defense ministry announced that the Chinese warships are expected to arrive at the port of Novorossiysk before May 9, the day that a military parade will be held in Moscow to celebrate the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe 70 years ago, according to the Sina Military Network based in Beijing. President Xi Jinping of China has accepted an invitation from President Vladimir Putin of Russia to attend the event.

Fan Changlong, vice chair of China’s Central Military Commission, will begin an official visit to Moscow after Xi Jinping returns to Beijing on May 10. Fan will meet the Russian defense minister, Sergey Shoygu, to discuss buying more advanced weapons and hardware from Russia as well as defense cooperation.

The PLA task force will then sail for the Mediterranean together with the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy at Novorossiysk to carry out air defense, anti-submarine and escort drills as part of the Joint Sea 2015 exercise. A Russian expert said a similar joint exercise will be held in the Sea of Japan in September — timed to coincide with China’s celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of Japan’s surrender and the end of WWII in the Pacific.