China and Russia Challenge American Military Excellence with a major joint practice star-news.press/wp

The Chinese Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday that China and Russia will do common naval exercises in the Pacific Ocean next week.

Why do it matter

The neighbors have moved to strengthen security relations in recent years through bilateral and multilateral exercises that extend to naval and air patrols and simulate computer. More than half of the exercises combined since 2003 have occurred in the past six years, according to Analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies “China Project of Power.

This cooperation is particularly concentrated in the Pacific Ocean. While Beijing and Moscow lacks an official treaty, it corresponds to a long -term American military domination and seeks to create its own spheres of influence, the analysts say.

Newsweek He arrived at the Russian Ministry of Defense via e -mail with a request for suspension outside working hours.

What do you know

China’s Ministry of Defense spokesman Zhang Xiawing said at the regular press conference on Wednesday.

The exercises, which will also include land training and marine interaction collectively 2025, begin on August 1, according to the Pacific Fleet that you have participated. Russian government media. Both sides confirmed that the exercises are not directed to any third party.

The naval forces will train in anti -submarine warfare, air defense, search and rescue warfare, and will do “joint gun” exercises, according to a Russian statement.

The Russian ships participating will lead a large anti -submarine war vessel, with a Missile 052 SHAOXing destroyer leading the Chinese unit. Electrical submarines and marine phones will also participate in both countries.

After exercises, the two sides will spread in an unlimited part of the Pacific Ocean of their sixth joint naval patrols, Zhang told reporters.

What people said

Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Defense: “This is an arrangement within the annual cooperation plan between Chinese and Russian armies. No third party targets, and is not related to the current international and regional situation.”

Garrett Campbell, retired US Navy Commander and Consultant in NATO in the Russian military strategy, wrote to the Institute for Foreign Policy Research in Philadelphia in June: “It has become clear that the increase in bilateral military activities is directly related to a joint strategy vision carried by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin.

“(…) Putin, which many in the American National Security Society see as merely a tactical opportunism, Russia has committed to a long -term strategy with the West.”

What next

The last two days of training will interfere with a joint exercise between the Indian and Philippine Navy in the South China Sea, while observers described it as an offer to support New Delhi for the American treaty ally in its continuous regional conflict with China.