Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Russian Pacific Fleet reported on Sunday that the Russian and Chinese navies are engaged in artillery and anti-submarine exercises in the Sea of Japan as part of their scheduled joint drills.
China and Russia began naval drills in the Sea of Japan in support of each other, as both militaries oppose what they see as a U.S.-led world order. Over the last few years, both Chinese and Russian governments have worked to increase their ties as China has provided Russia with economic support in light of the sanctions enacted by the West as a consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
What is the Joint Sea-2025 exercise supposed to show?
Interfax news agency cited the Pacific Fleet as saying Chinese ships and Russian ships were working together to build a unit where a Russian anti-submarine warfare ship was working with two Chinese destroyers.
It was stated that diesel-electric submarines from both countries operated along with a Chinese submarine rescue ship. The exercises, dubbed “Maritime Interaction-2025,” will reportedly finish on Tuesday.
According to Interfax, servicemen from Russia and China will engage in gunnery exercises, conduct anti-submarine and anti-air defence exercises, and enhance their combined search and rescue procedures out at sea.
Why did Trump deploy nuclear submarines recently?
The exercises are happening two days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he had directed two nuclear submarines to be stationed in “the appropriate regions” following comments by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. However, these drills were planned well in advance of Trump’s decision.
Trump said the submarine order was a reaction to comments from Russia’s Medvedev that Trump expressed were “highly provocative” related to a possible war between the two nuclear nations. He made these statements as tensions between Russia and the US have risen, as Trump is increasingly frustrated with the pace of a ceasefire and ending the Ukraine conflict.
When did China and Russia conduct their first joint military exercises?
Russia and China, which inscribed a “no-limits” strategic coalition shortly before Russia went to fighting in Ukraine in 2022, perform regular military exercises to rehearse coordination between their armed forces and send a deterrent signal to opponents.
Before the recent joint naval drills of “Joint Sea-2025” joint military exercises, China and Russia both conducted joint military exercises a few times a year for many years prior, with the first joint military exercise being conducted on August 19-25, 2005, called “Peace Mission 2005.”
Peace Mission 2005 saw land, sea and air elements simulating intervention during a situation where a state was besieged by terrorist or political turmoil on the Shandong Peninsula in China. The joint exercise comprised approximately 8200 Chinese troops and 1800 Russian troops and represented an exercise that showcased military cooperation, strategic signalling related to regional influence with respect to deterring other militarised states such as the US.
