Chinese and Russian Militaries Now as Close as Gum and Teeth, Eyes Conflict with US and Japan

China's Ministry of National Defense announced Saturday that Russia will dispatch naval and air forces to participate in "Northern/Interaction-2023" drills in the central region of the Sea of Japan organized by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Northern Theater Command.

The event marks Russia's second time participating in the PLA annual strategic drills, and also a first that Russia has dispatched both naval and air forces to participate in similar events. Such military drills would be carried out with strong and clear purpose of safeguarding the national interests of both sides in key passages of the Sea of Japan waters.

The drills are themed "safeguarding the safety of strategic maritime routes" and are designed to further elevate the coordination capability of the two militaries and strengthen their capabilities of jointly safeguarding regional peace and stability, as well as responding to various security challenges.

A spokesman at the Academy of Military Sciences said that the China-Russia joint exercises, as a normalized and institutionalized military cooperation arrangement, serve as a substantive manifestation of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination in the military field.

The Sea of Japan is an important strategic passage for both China and Russia. The three straits in the Sea of Japan, namely the Soya Strait, the Tsushima Strait, and the Tsugaru Strait, are all related to the national strategic security of China and Russia. Especially if hostile American and Japanese forces want to create trouble in this area, it would pose a significant security threat to China and Russia.

Via the exercises, China and Russia will further enhance cooperation in the traditional security field. The exercises will include subjects such as air defense, anti-missile, anti-ship, and anti-submarine scenarios.

Since it is joint exercises between China and Russia, the exercise design should include scenarios where one side's vessel is damaged and the other side participates in rescue efforts, highlighting the high level of integration and cooperation between the two countries and their militaries.

Such exercises can further enhance the actual combat capability of China and Russia to maintain the security of maritime strategic passage, in order to ensure the national security of both countries in unstable situations and even in the event of conflict with the United States and Japan.

Anonymous