China and Russia plan to hold military drills by end of September
Drills of the Russian Federation and China (Russian media)
Today, China announced plans for joint military drills with Russia, titled "North-Joint 2024," to be held in the skies and seas around the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk this month, according to the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
The statement notes that the drills will involve both countries' naval and air forces.
"This exercise aims to deepen the strategic cooperation level between the Chinese and Russian militaries and enhance their ability to jointly deal with security threats," the Chinese Ministry of Defense said.
Both China and Russia plan to deploy their fleets to the Pacific Ocean for joint patrolling. Additionally, Chinese troops are expected to participate in the Russian strategic drills "Ocean-2024."
The exact date of the exercises has not yet been disclosed by the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
In July of this year, Russia and China also conducted joint exercises in the waters and airspace around Zhanjiang, a city in Guangdong Province in southern China. These took place against the backdrop of NATO leaders' statements that China had become a decisive enabler in Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
China-Russia relations
Bilateral relations between China and Russia have strengthened following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. China provides economic and political support to Russia, and assists in evading sanctions, although it formally avoids direct military assistance. Both countries declare an unlimited partnership aimed against the West, which enhances their cooperation in trade, energy, and defense.
Their relationship poses a threat to the global community. Firstly, their joint support for autocratic regimes and opposition to the West undermines international security and democracy. Secondly, Russian-Chinese military exercises and defense coordination increase the risk of escalating conflicts in Europe and Asia. And, of course, the strengthening of trade ties between China and Russia helps Russia bypass sanctions, affecting the state of the Russian defense industry. As a result, Russia continues its war against Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg previously said that Beijing's ongoing fueling of the war against Ukraine through its connections with Russia could negatively impact China's interests and reputation.
