China, Russia to start joint air and sea drill in Sea of Japan

BEIJING – A Chinese naval flotilla set off on Sunday to join Russian naval and air forces in the Sea of Japan in an exercise aimed at “safeguarding the security of strategic waterways”, according to China’s Defence Ministry.

Codenamed “Northern/Interaction-2023”, the drill marks enhanced military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and is taking place as China continues to rebuff US calls to resume military communication.

The Chinese flotilla – consisting of five warships and four ship-borne helicopters – left the eastern port of Qingdao and will rendezvous with Russian forces in a “predetermined area”, the Defence Ministry said on its official WeChat account on Sunday.

On Saturday, the ministry said Russian naval and air forces would participate in the drill in the Sea of Japan. It would be the first time that both Russian forces are taking part in the drill, state newspaper Global Times cited military observers as saying.

Gromkiy and Sovershenniy, two Russian warships taking part in the Sea of Japan drill, had earlier in July trained w

ith the Chinese navy

in Shanghai on formation movements, communication and sea rescues.

Before making port at the financial hub of Shanghai,

the same ships sailed past Taiwan and Japan,

prompting both Taipei and Tokyo to monitor the Russian warships.

Days before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping declared a “no-limits” partnership they said was aimed at countering the influence of the United States.

One notable area of the partnership is military cooperation.

When China’s Defence Minister Li Shangfu met the head of the Russian navy, Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, in Beijing in July, both sides reiterated pledges to strengthen military ties.

Chinese military Chief of Joint Staff Liu Zhenli and Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov made the same pledge during a video call in June. REUTERS