China, Russia Set to Hold Joint Naval Drills This Week

Iranian, Russian, and Chinese warships during a joint military drill in the Indian ocean in an undated file photo. Iranian Army office/AFP via Getty Images

Beijing and Moscow will conduct joint naval drills starting on Dec. 21, an exercise that signals the rising cooperation between two of America’s greatest rivals.

The joint exercises, which have been an annual event since 2012, will take place in the East China Sea.

“The active part of the exercise will include joint missile and artillery firings at air targets, artillery firings at sea targets, and the training of joint anti-submarine actions involving the practical use of weapons,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement, according to TASS.

The main goal of the joint drills is to “boost naval cooperation between Russia and China,” the ministry noted. The Russian navy stated that the Varyag missile cruiser, the Marshal Shaposhnikov destroyer, and two corvettes of Russia’s Pacific Fleet will take part.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will send two patrol ships, two destroyers, a diesel submarine, and an integrated supply ship to the exercise.

The drills also will involve helicopters and aircraft from the Pacific Fleet and the PLA, according to the ministry. In order to take part in the exercise, Russian ships set sail on Dec. 19 from the Pacific port of Vladivostok, Russia.

Russia–China Cooperation

Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, cooperation between Moscow and Beijing has strengthened.

In September, China sent more than 2,000 troops along with 300 military vehicles, three warships, and 21 combat aircraft for a joint drill with Russia, which was the first time that Beijing sent forces from three branches of its military to participate in a single exercise in Russia.

In November, bombers from Russian and Chinese forces took part in joint patrols over the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan. While Chinese bombers flew to a Russian air base, bombers from Russia landed in China for the first time.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno raised concerns about the joint drills.

“We will closely monitor the increasing cooperation between the two countries with a sense of concern,” he said during a press briefing at the time.

China has refused to criticize Moscow for invading Ukraine and has instead placed blame for the conflict on NATO and the United States for provoking Russia.

The regime in Beijing also has criticized the sanctions placed on Moscow. In return, Russia has extended support to China in its tensions with the United States regarding Taiwan.

Dealing With China and Russia

In the 2022 U.S. National Security Strategy report released in October (pdf), Washington recommended adopting two different strategies to deal with the threats posed by China and Russia.

“The PRC [People’s Republic of China] and Russia are increasingly aligned with each other but the challenges they pose are, in important ways, distinct. We will prioritize maintaining an enduring competitive edge over the PRC while constraining a still profoundly dangerous Russia,” the report reads.

It highlights China as the “only competitor” that has both the intent and capability to reshape the international order. Beijing is seeking to modernize and strengthen its military while eroding U.S. alliances in the Indo-Pacific and the entire world, it states.

Washington put forward three strategies to deal with China: investing in American advantages of democracy, innovation, competitiveness, and resilience; aligning U.S. efforts with its allies and partners; and competing to defend U.S. interests and building America’s vision for the future.

With regard to Russia, the report points out that Moscow’s war against Ukraine has “profoundly diminished” its status when compared to China and other Asian powers, such as Japan and India.