Russian marines celebrate tercentenary in Vladivostok

RIA Novosti ^ | 27/ 11/ 2005

[lizol]

Russian marines celebrate tercentenary in Vladivostok

12:03 | 27/ 11/ 2005

VLADIVOSTOK, November 27 (RIA Novosti, Anatoly Ilyukhov) - Vladivostok, in the Far East of Russia, hosted festive activities of the Russian Pacific Fleet on the occasion of the tercentenary of Russian marines, the fleet's press service said Sunday.

Marines held a ceremonial parade and commemorated heroes laying a wreath to the monument to marines of the Pacific Fleet.

They also showed their skills in self-defense.

"Russian marines appeared after the 1704 decree of Peter the Great [a Russian tsar] and November 27, 1705 is considered the birthday of Russia's marines," the press service said.

[Gay State Conservative]

Russian Marines have every right to be proud,IMO.

Guarding the various Gulag installations during the 50's,60's and 70's....

Budapest 1956....

Prague 1968.....

[lizol]

Well, neither Hungary, nor Czechoslovakia had access to sea, so marines were not necessarily engaged there. :-)

[Gay State Conservative]

Well, neither Hungary, nor Czechoslovakia had access to sea, so marines were not necessarily engaged there. :-)

Consider my post to have been symbolic in nature.

[BnBlFlag]

Vladivostok. Soon to be property of the Red Chinese.

[Alex-DV]

It is not a fact, Mr. BnBlFlag.

[BnBlFlag]

I hope you're right, my FRiend.
I understand that there are millions of Chinese pouring into Russian Siberia to find jobs etc. Is this true? If so, what kind of threat do you think it poses to the long term fate of the Russian far east?

[Alex-DV]

Thanks for your interest to my native region. I was living in Vladivostok for 8 years (1996-2004), and I can say that rumors about millions of Chinamen infesting Siberia and Far East are slightly exaggerated. Putting aside Siberia (I haven't been there), I can surely say that I saw Chinese people in Vladivostok only at the local markets (merchants). That's it. May be several thousand at the most. There are no Chinese neighborhoods in Far Eastern cities (like Chinatowns in America).
I have read that there are much more Chinese people in Moscow (unofficially 300000), and it's quite natural - they prefer large cities where they can carry on business. Far Eastern taiga with bad roads and poor infrastructure is not so attractive to them.
And one more aspect: Chinese government doesn't have territorial claims to Russia, all controversial boundary disputes were solved with mutual benefits.
P.S. That is my point of view as a former resident of Vladivostok, based on my own experience. I spare you official data, it's not interesting in this case. (Officially there are 35000 Chinese people all over Russia, according to the latest census:))

[BnBlFlag]

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I hope the American Eagle and the Russian Bear can work together to keep the Chinese Dragon in it's cage.