The United States will monitor joint military drills by China and Russia in the Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk, but there is "no dramatic, imminent concern," a senior White House official said. The White House national security spokesman John Kirby said at a press briefing on Monday local time that the United States will watch the naval and air exercises like any other drills.

Russian and Chinese navy ships met in the Sea of Japan on Tuesday to take part in joint drills, the RIA news agency quoted Russia's defence ministry as saying. The exercise is part of broader war games which Russia began on Tuesday,