A coordinated naval patrol and two successive military drills have been initiated by China and Russia. Advanced Chinese warships and warplanes arrived in the Peter the Great Bay and Vladivostok to prepare for these exercises.
Arrival of Chinese Forces
The Chinese flotilla reached the exercise site on Monday. They are supposed to met with the Russian forces in the northern part of Peter the Great Bay. This information was shared by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) media center on Tuesday.
The Chinese fleet includes:
– 052D destroyer Xining
– 055 large destroyer Wuxi
– 054A frigate Linyi
– 903A replenishment ship Taihu
– Three helicopters based on these ships
Large anti-submarine ships, corvettes, patrol planes, and helicopters are among the weapons that the Russian side will provide.
Strengthening Cooperation
The joint drill, called Northern/Interaction-2024, aims to boost the strategic cooperation between China and Russia. It also focuses on improving their ability to deal with security threats. The drill will continue until late September, according to the PLA’s media center.
The Russian Defense Ministry also confirmed that their Navy and China’s Navy met in Peter the Great Bay to start the Ocean-2024 drill. This drill will last until September 16.
China and Russia Joint Drills
A video released by the Russian Defense Ministry shows that the same Chinese ships participating in the Northern/Interaction-2024 drill will also take part in Ocean-2024. These two drills will be followed by a joint maritime patrol.
The Northern/Interaction-2024 drill will take place in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk. The Ocean-2024 drill is being hosted by Russia, while China will lead the Northern/Interaction-2024 drill. After these drills, China and Russia will conduct their fifth maritime patrol together in the Pacific Ocean.
Expert Views
A Chinese military expert, mentioned that China and Russia will first complete the Ocean-2024 drill, then move on to the Northern/Interaction-2024 exercise. They will then start the combined naval patrol. Although these intense training are uncommon, Zhang Junshe, another Chinese specialist, said they make sense. He said that China and Russia’s collaboration furthers international peace and stability. He emphasized that the drills do not target any third country.
Air Support and Command Center
Arriving at Vladivostok’s Knevichi Airport were Chinese personnel, who then established a combined command center with Russia. The Chinese military used Y-20 aircraft to move its people.
China also sent aerial forces to support the Northern/Interaction-2024 drill. These include:
– KJ-500 early warning aircraft
– J-16 and J-10 fighter jets
– Z-20 utility helicopters
Way Forward
China and Russia’s joint military drills showcase their growing strategic partnership. These exercises, involving advanced warships, aircraft, and joint command centers, strengthen their ability to work together in addressing security threats. Both China and Russia continue to believe that their cooperation will contribute to global stability.