China Refuted Participation in Syrian Exercise

21.06.2012 Following Moscow and Damascus, Beijing refuted the information recently emerged in media that Russia, China, Syria, and Iran were allegedly about to hold joint military exercise in Syrian territory, reported Xinhua referring to Chinese foreign ministry.

According to a spokesman for Chinese foreign ministry, that information is in contrary to fact.

On Tuesday it was also confuted by Russian defense ministry, reported Vzglyad. "The only correct thing in those reports is that landing ship Kaliningrad is really serves in Baltic Fleet", said the ministry's spokesman.

Official Damascus also responded on the media fake. Buseina Shaaban, political advisor to the Syrian president described that information as "false".

Recall that TV channel Al Arabiya reported on Tuesday referring to Iranian media that a large-scale military exercise would be held in Syria soon with participation of Russia and China.

As for the TV Channel, Egypt permitted 12 Chinese warships to pass the Suez Canal, and they were to arrive in Syria within two weeks.

It was also said in report that about 400 aircraft and 1,000 tanks will be involved in the exercise, as well as Russian submarines, destroyers and the aircraft carrier.

Syria was about to test land-to-sea missiles and air defense systems, reported Al Arabiya.