 Russia and China began a show of force in the Pacific. Five Russian and four Chinese warships began a joint patrol mission in the Pacific Ocean Moscow has announced. It is the third such operation carried out by the navies of the two countries which have intensified military cooperation in recent years. The vessels departed from the port of Vladivostok in Russia's Far East and set out upon an agreed route, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. The goals of the mission are to strengthen naval cooperation between Russia and China, maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, monitor the sea area and protect the facilities of maritime economic activity of the two countries, the statement read. During the patrol, Russian and Chinese sailors will work on perfecting various types of joint actions, including the organization of defensive measures, replenishing water and fuel on the move, and carrying out anti-submarine activities, the ministry said. Russian and Chinese helicopters will conduct missions which will involve them landing on vessels belonging to the other country, it added. The ships will also interact with aviation from the Russian Pacific Fleet and China's People's Liberation Army, according to Moscow, the Chinese Defense Ministry confirmed the joint drill and noted that it doesn't target any third party and has nothing to do with the current international and regional situation.