© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The Russian flag flies in front of the Great Hall of the People before the welcoming ceremony for Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Beijing, China, May 24, 2023. REUTERS/THOMAS PETER/POOL/FILE PHOTO
Written by Yu Lun Tian
BEIJING (Reuters) – A Chinese navy set off on Sunday to join Russian naval and air forces in the Sea of Japan in an exercise aimed at “protecting the security of strategic waterways,” the Chinese Defense Ministry said.
The exercises, codenamed “North/Interaction-2023,” mark the strengthening of military cooperation between China and Russia since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, and are taking place as Beijing continues to reject US calls to resume military contacts.
The ministry said in its official WeChat account on Sunday that the Chinese fleet, consisting of five warships and four ship-borne helicopters, has left the eastern port of Qingdao and will meet with Russian forces in a “predetermined area.”
The ministry said on Saturday that the Russian Navy and Air Force will take part in the exercises taking place in the Sea of Japan.
The state-run Global Times newspaper quoted military observers as saying that this would be the first time that Russian forces took part in the exercises.
Gromky and Sovereign, two Russian warships taking part in the Sea of Japan exercises, earlier this month conducted separate exercises with the Chinese Navy in Shanghai on formation movements, communications and sea rescue.
Before reaching a port in the financial center of Shanghai, the same ships had sailed through Taiwan and Japan, prompting both Taipei and Tokyo to keep an eye on Russian warships.
Days before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a “borderless” partnership that they said was aimed at countering US influence.
One notable area of partnership is military cooperation.
When Chinese Defense Minister Li Changfu met Russian Navy chief Admiral Nikolai Yevminov in Beijing this month, both sides reiterated their pledge to strengthen military ties.
The Chinese army’s joint chief of staff, Liu Chenlei, and Russia’s top soldier, Valery Gerasimov, made the same pledge during a video call in June.