China said on Friday that it was holding combined military exercises with Russia along its southern coast. Japan had earlier issued a warning about the growing threat posed by Beijing’s close connections to Moscow, and the US-led Western defense alliance had convened in Washington.
According to China’s defense ministry, the Joint Sea-2024 drills between the two military started “early July” and will go until the middle of this month.
The goal of the exercises, according to the ministry, is “to demonstrate the resolve and capabilities of the two sides in jointly addressing maritime security threats and preserving global and regional peace and stability” in the waters and airspace surrounding Zhanjiang, a city in the southern Guangdong province.
“Will further deepen China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era,” the statement continued.
According to the ministry, these were happening in line with Beijing and Moscow’s yearly military interaction schedule.
The announcement came in the same week that NATO leaders convened in Washington to reaffirm support for Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion.
Beijing warned NATO against “provoking confrontation” after Beijing declared that China had “become a decisive enabler” of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, according to a statement released by NATO leaders on Wednesday.
Although China insists it is not involved in the crisis in Ukraine, Western officials have criticized it for providing political and economic support to Russia, notably through commerce in items with both military and civilian use.
On the eastern frontier of NATO, Chinese and Belarusian military are conducting training this week. Belarus is another supporter of Russia.
Additionally, Japan declared on Friday that joint Chinese-Russian efforts close to its borders present a “serious threat from the standpoint of national security.”
