The New York Times writes, "The Chinese Navy will hold joint exercises with Russia in the Mediterranean next month, China's Defense Ministry said Thursday, a further indication of the closer ties between the two countries and of the navy's increasing ambitions. Nine ships from the two countries will participate in the drills...[which] will focus on navigation safety, at-sea replenishment, escort missions and live-fire exercises... One of China's main military goals is to develop a navy that goes beyond coastal waters and can travel the world's oceans, and while military analysts said the drills in the Mediterranean appeared to be modest, they would be the farthest from home the Chinese Navy has done."
Reuters writes, "China's Defense Ministry expressed concern on Thursday at the Pentagon's updated cyber strategy that stresses the U.S. military's ability to retaliate with cyber weapons, saying this would only worsen tension over Internet security. The strategy presents a potentially far more muscular role for the U.S. military's cyber warriors than the Pentagon was willing to acknowledge in its last strategy rollouts in 2011 and singles out threats from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. China is frequently accused by the United States and its allies of engaged in widespread hacking attacks, charges Beijing always vociferously denies."