China Conducts Joint Military Drills with Russia Amid Western Concerns

China announced on Friday that it had commenced joint military exercises with Russia along its southern coast, marking a significant geopolitical move amid heightened tensions with Western powers. The drills, known as Joint Sea-2024, began in early July and are scheduled to continue until the middle of this month, according to China’s defense ministry.

Located in the waters and airspace around Zhanjiang, a city in southern Guangdong province, these exercises aim to showcase the combined resolve and capabilities of China and Russia in addressing maritime security threats. The ministry emphasized that the drills are also aimed at preserving global and regional peace and stability, underscoring their strategic importance.

These joint military maneuvers, conducted under the framework of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era, reflect the deepening ties between Beijing and Moscow. Both nations have increasingly aligned their interests in response to what they perceive as assertive actions and policies by Western alliances, particularly NATO.

The announcement comes in the aftermath of a NATO summit in Washington, where member states reaffirmed their support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s ongoing invasion. NATO leaders have expressed concerns over China’s role, describing it as a facilitator of Moscow’s actions in Ukraine. This characterization has prompted strong reactions from Beijing, which has warned NATO against escalating tensions.

China maintains that it is not directly involved in the Ukraine conflict but has faced criticism from Western nations for its political and economic support to Russia, including trade involving goods with dual civilian and military applications. Concurrently, Chinese military forces are engaged in joint exercises with Belarus, another ally of Russia, near NATO’s eastern borders.

In response to these developments, Japan has voiced apprehension over the implications of coordinated activities by China and Russia near its territory, viewing them as a serious concern for national security. The situation underscores the complex dynamics of global power struggles and alliances in the current geopolitical landscape, where strategic military exercises serve as potent symbols of international relations and influence.