A joint military exercise in the Gulf of Oman between troops from China, Russia and Iran enhanced the ability of their navies to conduct diversified maritime missions, officials said on Thursday.
Tan Kefei, a spokesman for China's Defence Ministry, said the drills further deepened friendship and practical co-operation between the three countries.
The three nations sent forces including 12 ships, special operations and diving units to participate in the drills from March 15 to 19, Mr Tan said.
The Chinese Defence Ministry also said that Beijing was willing to work with the Russian military to strengthen strategic communication and co-ordination.
The two countries will work together to implement global security initiatives, Mr Tan said.
He said they would deepen military trust and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice.
They will also organise further maritime, air and other joint exercises, he added.
China President Xi Jinping recently visited Russia and met President Vladimir Putin ― a visit the US denounced.
Mr Tan also said that Australia-Britain-US nuclear submarine co-operation, known as the Aukus pact, may spark an arms race.
"Once Pandora's box is opened, the regional strategic balance will be disrupted, regional security will be seriously threatened," he said.
Changing naval balance
China's People’s Liberation Army Navy is currently the largest navy in the world in terms of numbers of surface vessels, but its operations in the Middle East have to date been limited.
The Pentagon said in January that China’s navy was outbuilding the US and would have 400 ships by 2025. The US navy hopes to have 350 ships by 2035. Amid intensifying competition, the US and China are likely to focus naval power in the Pacific region in the near future, putting strain on the US military presence in the region, which dates back to a 1980s US policy known as the Carter Doctrine.
The policy led to the US basing significant naval power in the region to counter the Soviet Union, and later, Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and post-revolution Iran.
In recent years, that mission has changed to countering piracy, drugs and weapons smuggling, working with allies in a 34-nation naval task force.
The US maintains a large naval base in Bahrain, the headquarters of the Fifth Fleet, which operates over 2.5 million square kilometres in the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean.
About seven US carrier groups are currently at sea, according to the US navy. None are these are in the Middle East, while four are in the Pacific region.
Rival alliance
US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Mark Milley told Congress on Wednesday that Iran, Russia and China were strengthening military co-operation.
“I wouldn’t call it a true full alliance in the real meaning of that word, but we are seeing them moving closer together, and that’s troublesome,” Gen Milley said.
China currently operates three aircraft carriers, powered by fossil fuel propulsion, while the US has 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, including the largest in the world, which is capable of carrying about 80 fighter aircraft and bombers.
Beijing’s rivals in the Pacific, such as Japan, have countered its naval expansion by launching their own military build-ups. Japan, which is co-ordinating more closely with countries in Nato, is building new aircraft carriers and co-operating on new fighter jet programmes.
Australia has recently been brought into the fold through the multibillion-dollar Aukaus pact to build nuclear submarines with the US and UK.
It is not clear whether these developments could lead to a greater Russian and Chinese presence in the Middle East.
Russia, which operates a naval base in Tartus, Syria, has about 185 active surface vessels and nearly 60 submarines, many of them nuclear powered. The country operates one aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kusetsov.
Iran, meanwhile, has focused on building large numbers of small, highly mobile missile-armed boats, part of a strategy to swarm and overwhelm a naval rival such as the US, but in recent years has increasingly launched larger vessels, including the multi-hulled, trimaran missile boats developed under its so-called Project Hormuz.
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
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Results:
5pm: Baynunah Conditions (UAE bred) Dh80,000 1,400m.
Winner: Al Tiryaq, Dane O’Neill (jockey), Abdullah Al Hammadi (trainer).
5.30pm: Al Zahra Handicap (rated 0-45) Dh 80,000 1,400m:
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Match info
Manchester United 1
Fred (18')
Wolves 1
Moutinho (53')
Premier Futsal 2017 Finals
Al Wasl Football Club; six teams, five-a-side
Delhi Dragons: Ronaldinho
Bengaluru Royals: Paul Scholes
Mumbai Warriors: Ryan Giggs
Chennai Ginghams: Hernan Crespo
Telugu Tigers: Deco
Kerala Cobras: Michel Salgado
Company name: Farmin
Date started: March 2019
Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: AgriTech
Initial investment: None to date
Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto
Price: From Dh39,500
Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed auto
Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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