Putin’s China visit may seal landmark gas agreement. China and Russia will hold a joint naval drill (the "Joint Sea 2014")

Russian President Vladimir Putin will next week travel to China for a visit expected to see Moscow and Beijing seal a landmark gas agreement, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.

During the May 20 visit to Shanghai, Putin will oversee the signing of a number of "important agreements" in trade and energy, the Kremlin said without providing further details.

China urges Vietnam to stop disrupting oil drilling over the Xisha Islands

China on Friday again urged Vietnam to respect its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea and stop provocative actions.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying reiterated at a routine press briefing that the Xisha Islands are the inherent territory of China and there are no disputes in this area.

Hua said Vietnam's actions have violated international law, infringed on China's sovereignty and endangered navigational freedom.

Japan and South Korea hold joint drill in the zone claimed by China in East China Sea / S Korea slams Japan's video claim on disputed islets. -Dokdo/Takeshima issue

The Japanese and South Korean Navy conducted a joint exercise on Thursday in the East China Sea located in an area within China’s Air Defense Zone.

Two warships and a helicopter from Japan and several military units from South Korean were used in the drills on Thursday.

A representative of Japanese Navy said that the drills were a part of routine exercises and the Chinese side was not notified about the use of helicopters during the drills.

"The exercises were planned long before China announced the establishment of its Air Defense Zone in the East China Sea. The maneuvers were not organized as a response to the step taken by China", - stressed the representative of the Japanese Naval Command.

Russian Navy to hold biggest war games in decades

The four major Russian Navy fleets will hold a joint exercise in late January in the Mediterranean and Black seas. It will be the biggest such event in decades.
­Commands for the Northern, Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific fleets have been preparing for the exercises since December of last year, the Russian Defense Ministry has announced. Warships detached for the event are currently sailing to those regions.

Η Ιαπωνία Καλεί την Κίνα «να Πραγματοποιεί Ειρηνικά τις Ναυτικές της Δραστηριότητες»

Το Πεκίνο πρέπει να πραγματοποιεί "ειρηνικά" τις ναυτικές του δραστηριότητες, δήλωσε σήμερα ιάπωνας αξιωματούχος, αντιδρώντας στην έκκληση του κινέζου προέδρου Χου Zιντάο να γίνει η Κίνα μια ισχυρή ναυτική δύναμη.
«Oλες οι χώρες, συμπεριλαμβανομένης της Κίνας, έχουν το δικαίωμα και το καθήκον να προστατεύσουν τα εδάφη τους και τα χωρικά τους ύδατα, όμως οι ενέργειες αυτές θα πρέπει να γίνονται ειρηνικά και σύμφωνα με το διεθνές δίκαιο», τόνισε η Ναόκο Σαΐκι, αναπληρώτρια εκπρόσωπος του ιαπωνικού υπουργείου Εξωτερικών.

FM: Never give in on China's sovereignty

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei says China and Japan have been preparing for the next round of vice foreign minister consultation on the Diaoyu Islands issue. He reiterated that China is willing to solve the dispute through negotiations, but would never give in on the country’s sovereignty.
Hong Lei, spokesman of Chinese Foreign Ministry, said, "China has solemnly expressed its stance on the Diaoyu Islands and its determination to safeguard the country’s sovereignty integrity at various negotiations.

S. China Sea fleet holds landing drill (VIDEO cnTV)

The Chinese Navy’s South China Sea Fleet has held a landing drill in waters of the South China Sea. The drill involved a formation of destroyers, frigates, landing ships and submarines. The formation first practised using electromagnetic interference equipment. 

Meanwhile, a missile was launched to practice defending against incoming aircraft and missiles. Artillery on board ships then fired at fixed targets on shore.
As the drill continued, damage to ships and casualties were simulated.