Air and sea… Chinese-Russian military exercises in the Sea of ​​Japan

The Chinese Ministry of Defense announced that a navy fleet set off today, Sunday, to join the Russian naval and air forces in the Sea of ​​Japan in a joint exercise aimed at “protecting security in strategic waterways.”

The Ministry of Defense said on its official WeChat account on Sunday that a small Chinese fleet consisting of five warships and four ship-mounted helicopters has left Qingdao port and will meet up with Russian forces in a “predetermined area.”

The ministry also said on Saturday that Russian naval and air forces will take part in the exercises, which will take place in the Sea of ​​Japan.

First time

While military observers revealed that this will be the first time that Russian naval and air forces will participate together in the exercises, according to the “Global Times” newspaper.

The two Russian warships, Gromky and Severcheny, participating in the new exercises, carried out a separate exercise this month with the Chinese Navy in Shanghai on formation movements, communication and maritime rescue.

Before docking in Shanghai, the two ships passed Taiwan and Japan, prompting Taipei and Tokyo to monitor and track their movements.

The joint exercises signal the strengthening of military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and come at a time when China continues to reject calls from the United States to resume military contact.

Days before Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping announced a “borderless” partnership that they said aimed to counter US influence.