China and Russia conduct Joint Naval Patrols in the Pacific Ocean

The Chinese Defense Ministry recently revealed that the Russian and Chinese navies joined forces to patrol the North and West Pacific Oceans. This is their fourth joint naval exercise as part of an annual plan to work together on military strategy. The Ministry of Defense clarified that the patrol was not aimed at any other country and had nothing to do with the current political situation in the region or around the world.

Background context and strategic alliances

Sino-Russian military, economic and political ties have strengthened over time, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The West has criticized China for staying out of the war, albeit neutral. The accusations come because China has been providing political and economic support to Russia, including trade with both in materials that can be used for military purposes.

The impact of the Sino-Russian alliance

The partnership between China and Russia has major strategic implications, especially in standing together against the US-led NATO. Although the two countries have strained relations with NATO, they often work together in military exercises to demonstrate their combined military strength and build a sense of mutual security cooperation.

Recent events and criticism

Along with the recent patrols, China said it would conduct more naval exercises with Russia on the southern coast near Zhanjiang. These are called the United Seas-2 It follows harsh words from NATO, which has described Beijing as the main backer of Moscow’s actions in Ukraine, and Japan’s concerns over growing ties between Beijing and Moscow. China responded to the criticism by saying the exercises were part of its plan to maintain peace and stability in the region and around the world.

Comparative military capabilities

Although their joint exercises have been large and frequent, the EU Institute for Security Studies report says Chinese and Russian military operations are not as integrated and cannot work closely with NATO forces.

About Sino-Russian relations

Historical ups and downs: China and Russia share a 4,209 km border, and their relationship has changed several times in the past due to global concerns. The Treaty of Nerchinsk (1689) is the first agreement between Russia and China during the Qing Dynasty. The friendship between Stalin and Mao Zedong strengthened after the Korean War in the 1950s, but this broke down rapidly during the Sino-Soviet split in the late 1950s.

Post-Soviet Reform: After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, relations between China and Russia improved. In 1996 they formed a strategic partnership and in 2004 they agreed on a border, ending a long-running territorial dispute. In recent years, the two countries have become more united against what they see as U.S. global hegemony by holding joint military exercises, focusing on working together in areas such as energy, trade and technology. Contemporary cooperation and challenges: An important project is the Power of Siberia Gas Pipeline, which will begin operation in December 2019. Even when they work together, they have alliance problems, such as how to balance China’s growing power with Russia’s long dominance in the region.

Source

Understanding extreme solar particle phenomena