Russia has begun week-long military exercises involving forces from China and other nations, a drill that shows growing defense cooperation between Moscow and Beijing as both face tensions with the United States. The large-scale maneuvers also appear to be intended to show that Russia has sufficient military power for massive exercises, even as its troops take part in action in Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry said the Vostok 2022 (East 2022) exercise will take place until September 7 at seven firing ranges in Russia’s Far East and the Sea of Japan and involve more than 50,000 troops and 5,000 weapons units, including 140 aircraft and 60 warships. The chief of the Russian General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, will personally oversee the exercises, which will involve troops from several former Soviet nations, China, India, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua and Syria. Participants attend the launch ceremony of Vostok 22 [File: Russian defence ministry via Reuters] The Defense Ministry noted that the Russian and Chinese navies “will carry out joint action to protect maritime communications, areas of maritime economic activity and support ground troops in coastal areas” in the Sea of Japan.
Cooperation with China is increasing
Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have developed strong personal ties to foster a “strategic partnership” between the former communist rivals as both are locked in a rivalry with the United States. China has refused to criticize Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying the United States is the “main instigator” of the conflict by supporting NATO expansion and imposing sanctions on Moscow. In return, Russia has strongly backed China amid tensions with the US sparked by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit to Taiwan. Russian President Vladimir Putin compared US support for Ukraine and Taiwan, saying both were part of alleged US efforts to foment global instability. Chinese military personnel participate in the opening ceremony [File: Russian defence ministry via Reuters] Political analyst Alexander Gabuyev noted: “It is very important for Beijing to show the US that it has leverage to pressure America and its global interests. “The joint maneuvers with Moscow, including the naval exercises, are intended to signal that if the pressure on Beijing continues it will have no choice but to strengthen military cooperation with Russia,” Gabuyev said. “It will have a direct impact on the interests of the US and its allies, including Japan.” He told The Associated Press that the Kremlin, for its part, wants to show that the country’s military is strong enough to flex its might elsewhere, despite the tough campaign in Ukraine. “The Russian leadership is showing that everything is going according to plan, and the country and its military have the resources to conduct the maneuvers together with the special military operation,” Gabuyev said. China’s participation in the exercises “aims to deepen realistic and friendly cooperation between the militaries of participating countries, enhance the level of strategic cooperation among all participating parties, and enhance the ability to jointly respond to various security threats,” a spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Defense, Col. Tan Kefei said last week. The exercise continues a series of joint war games by Russia and China in recent years, including naval exercises and patrols by long-range bombers over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. Last year, Russian troops were deployed on Chinese soil for joint exercises for the first time. Although Moscow and Beijing have previously dismissed the possibility of forming a military alliance, Putin said such a prospect cannot be ruled out. He also noted that Russia shares highly sensitive military technologies with China that have greatly contributed to enhancing its defense capability.
title: “Russia Begins Massive War Games With China And Other Allied States Military News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-29” author: “Laura French”
Russia has begun week-long military exercises involving forces from China and other nations, a drill that shows growing defense cooperation between Moscow and Beijing as both face tensions with the United States. The large-scale maneuvers also appear to be intended to show that Russia has sufficient military power for massive exercises, even as its troops take part in action in Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry said the Vostok 2022 (East 2022) exercise will take place until September 7 at seven firing ranges in Russia’s Far East and the Sea of Japan and involve more than 50,000 troops and 5,000 weapons units, including 140 aircraft and 60 warships. The chief of the Russian General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, will personally oversee the exercises, which will involve troops from several former Soviet nations, China, India, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua and Syria. Participants attend the launch ceremony of Vostok 22 [File: Russian defence ministry via Reuters] The Defense Ministry noted that the Russian and Chinese navies “will carry out joint action to protect maritime communications, areas of maritime economic activity and support ground troops in coastal areas” in the Sea of Japan.
Cooperation with China is increasing
Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have developed strong personal ties to foster a “strategic partnership” between the former communist rivals as both are locked in a rivalry with the United States. China has refused to criticize Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying the United States is the “main instigator” of the conflict by supporting NATO expansion and imposing sanctions on Moscow. In return, Russia has strongly backed China amid tensions with the US sparked by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit to Taiwan. Russian President Vladimir Putin compared US support for Ukraine and Taiwan, saying both were part of alleged US efforts to foment global instability. Chinese military personnel participate in the opening ceremony [File: Russian defence ministry via Reuters] Political analyst Alexander Gabuyev noted: “It is very important for Beijing to show the US that it has leverage to pressure America and its global interests. “The joint maneuvers with Moscow, including the naval exercises, are intended to signal that if the pressure on Beijing continues it will have no choice but to strengthen military cooperation with Russia,” Gabuyev said. “It will have a direct impact on the interests of the US and its allies, including Japan.” He told The Associated Press that the Kremlin, for its part, wants to show that the country’s military is strong enough to flex its might elsewhere, despite the tough campaign in Ukraine. “The Russian leadership is showing that everything is going according to plan, and the country and its military have the resources to conduct the maneuvers together with the special military operation,” Gabuyev said. China’s participation in the exercises “aims to deepen realistic and friendly cooperation between the militaries of participating countries, enhance the level of strategic cooperation among all participating parties, and enhance the ability to jointly respond to various security threats,” a spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Defense, Col. Tan Kefei said last week. The exercise continues a series of joint war games by Russia and China in recent years, including naval exercises and patrols by long-range bombers over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. Last year, Russian troops were deployed on Chinese soil for joint exercises for the first time. Although Moscow and Beijing have previously dismissed the possibility of forming a military alliance, Putin said such a prospect cannot be ruled out. He also noted that Russia shares highly sensitive military technologies with China that have greatly contributed to enhancing its defense capability.
