China and Russia’s naval forces have kicked off a joint exercise at a military port in southern China on Sunday, official news agency Xinhua reported, days after NATO allies called Beijing a “decisive enabler” of the war in Ukraine
BEIJING — China and Russia’s naval forces on Sunday kicked off a joint exercise at a military port in southern China on Sunday, official news agency Xinhua reported, days after NATO allies called Beijing a “decisive enabler” of the war in Ukraine.
The Chinese defense ministry said in a brief statement forces from both sides recently patrolled the western and northern Pacific Ocean and that the operation had nothing to do with international and regional situations and didn’t target any third party.
The exercise, which began in Guangdong province on Sunday and is expected to last until mid-July, aimed to demonstrate the capabilities of the navies in addressing security threats and preserving peace and stability globally and regionally, state broadcaster CCTV reported Saturday, adding it would include anti-missile exercises, sea strikes and air defense.
Xinhua News Agency reported the Chinese and Russian naval forces carried out on-map military simulation and tactical coordination exercises after the opening ceremony in the city of Zhanjiang.
The joint drills came on the heels of China’s latest tensions with NATO allies last week.
The sternly worded final communiqué, approved by the 32 NATO members at their summit in Washington, made clear that China is becoming a focus of the military alliance, calling Beijing a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The European and North American members and their partners in the Indo-Pacific increasingly see shared security concerns coming from Russia and its Asian supporters, especially China.
In response, China accused NATO of seeking security at the expense of others and told the alliance not to bring the same “chaos” to Asia. Its foreign ministry maintained that China has a fair and objective stance on the war in Ukraine.
Last week, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter on routine patrol in the Bering Sea also came across several Chinese military ships in international waters but within the U.S. exclusive economic zone, American officials said. Its crew detected three vessels approximately 124 miles (200 kilometers) north of the Amchitka Pass in the Aleutian Islands, which mark a separation and linkage between the North Pacific and the Bering Sea.
Later, a fourth ship was spotted approximately 84 miles (135 kilometers) north of the Amukta Pass.
The U.S. side said the Chinese naval vessels operated within international rules and norms.
China and Russia, two of the world’s most powerful countries, have recently announced that they will be conducting joint naval exercises in the East China Sea. This move has raised eyebrows around the world, as it marks a significant step in the growing military cooperation between the two nations.
The joint naval exercises, which are set to take place in the coming weeks, will involve warships, submarines, and aircraft from both countries. The goal of the exercises is to improve coordination and communication between the two navies, as well as to demonstrate their military capabilities to potential adversaries.
This is not the first time that China and Russia have conducted joint military exercises. In recent years, the two countries have been increasing their military cooperation in response to what they see as a growing threat from the United States and its allies. Both China and Russia have expressed concerns about the US military presence in the Asia-Pacific region, and have been working together to counterbalance American influence in the region.
The joint naval exercises are also seen as a way for China and Russia to strengthen their strategic partnership. Both countries have been working together on a number of economic and political initiatives, and the military exercises are seen as a way to further solidify their alliance.
However, the joint naval exercises have also raised concerns among some countries in the region. Japan, in particular, has expressed unease about the growing military cooperation between China and Russia, as it sees both countries as potential threats to its own security. The US has also voiced its concerns about the exercises, warning that they could destabilize the region and lead to a potential arms race.
Despite these concerns, China and Russia have made it clear that they see the joint naval exercises as a way to strengthen their own security and protect their interests in the region. Both countries have emphasized that the exercises are not directed at any specific country, and are simply a way for them to improve their military capabilities and coordination.
Overall, the joint naval exercises between China and Russia mark a significant development in their military cooperation. As both countries continue to strengthen their strategic partnership, it is likely that we will see more joint military exercises in the future. This growing alliance between two of the world’s most powerful countries is sure to have far-reaching implications for global security and geopolitics.
