Amid tensions with the West, Russia engages in war game with China

Russia has launched a week-long military exercise involving troops from China and other countries to showcase the growing defense cooperation between Moscow and Beijing amid tensions with the United States.

The exercises are also meant to show that Moscow has enough military strength to conduct the exercises even as its troops are fighting in Ukraine.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said that the “Oriental 2022” exercise will be held at seven shooting ranges in the Russian Far East and Sea of ​​Japan until September 7, when more than 50,000 soldiers and 5,000 weapons units will participate, including 140 aircraft and 60 ships. warship.

The Russian chief of staff, General Valery Gerasimov, will personally oversee the exercises, which will involve troops from several former Soviet states, China, India, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua and Syria.

The defense ministry said the Russian and Chinese navies would “take joint operations in the Sea of ​​Japan to protect maritime communications, marine economic activity areas and support ground forces in coastal areas”.

The exercises showcase the growing defense relationship between Moscow and Beijing, which has grown stronger since Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine on February 24.

China has refused to criticize Russia’s actions, accusing the United States and NATO of provoking Moscow and criticizing the imposition of punitive sanctions on Moscow.

Russia has strongly backed China amid tensions with Washington following a recent visit to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Mr. Putin compared U.S. support for Ukraine to Ms. Pelosi’s visit, calling it part of Washington’s alleged efforts to incite global instability.

Political analyst Alexander Gabuyev said: “It is important for Beijing to show the United States that it has the tools to put pressure on the United States and its global interests.

“Joint exercises with Moscow, including naval exercises, are designed to show that if Beijing continues to face pressure, it will have no choice but to strengthen its military partnership with Russia. This will directly affect the interests of the United States and its allies, including Japan. .”

He added that the Kremlin wanted to show that the country’s military was strong enough to flex its muscles elsewhere, despite the campaign in Ukraine.

The exercise continues a series of joint military exercises between Russia and China in recent years, including naval exercises and long-range bomber patrols in the Sea of ​​Japan and East China Sea.

Last year, Russian troops deployed to Chinese territory for the first time for joint exercises.

China’s participation in the exercise “aims to deepen the pragmatic and friendly cooperation between the two militaries of the participating countries, enhance the level of strategic cooperation among the participating parties, and enhance their ability to jointly deal with various security threats.” The Defense Department said last week.

Mr Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have forged a strong personal relationship to strengthen a “strategic partnership” between their former communist rivals as they compete with the United States.

Although Moscow and Beijing have rejected the possibility of a military alliance in the past, Putin said it could not be ruled out. He also noted that Russia has been sharing highly sensitive military technology with China, which has helped significantly enhance its defense capabilities.