Russia has said it will launch sweeping military exercises alongside forces from China to demonstrate increasingly close defense ties between Moscow and Beijing amid a war in Ukraine. The Vostok 2022 (East 2022) exercise will be held September 1-7 in various locations in the Russian Far East and the Sea of Japan and will involve more than 50,000 troops and 5,000 weapons units, including 140 aircraft and 60 warships, according to the Russian defense. Ministry. He posted a video of Chinese troops arriving in Russia in preparation for the massive exercise. The exercises will be held at seven firing ranges in Russia’s Far East and will involve troops from several former Soviet nations, China, India, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua and Syria. The ministry said units of Russian airborne troops, long-range bombers and military cargo planes will take part in the drills along with other forces. While it first announced the exercise last month, the Russian military stressed it was part of planned combat training that continues despite Moscow’s military action in Ukraine. It has not disclosed the number of troops involved in what the Kremlin calls a “special military operation” there. The ministry noted that as part of the maneuvers, the Russian and Chinese navies in the Sea of Japan “will carry out joint action to protect maritime communications, sectors of maritime economic activity and support ground troops in the coastal area [coastal] areas”. “The exercise is not directed against specific countries or military alliances and is purely defensive,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Fomin told a meeting with foreign military attachés. He clarified that the naval exercises will take place in the northern and central part of the Sea of Japan. The drills reflect growing defense ties between Moscow and Beijing, which have strengthened since Russia sent troops into Ukraine on February 24. China has flatly refused to criticize Russia’s action, saying the United States is the “main instigator” of the war by supporting NATO expansion and imposing sanctions on Moscow. In return, Russia has strongly backed China amid tensions with the US following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit to Taiwan. Speaking earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin drew parallels between US support for Ukraine and Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan, saying both were part of alleged US efforts to foment global instability. Russia and China have held a series of joint war games in recent years, including naval exercises and patrols by long-range bombers over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. Last year, Russian troops were deployed for the first time on Chinese soil for joint maneuvers. Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have developed strong personal ties to strengthen a “strategic partnership” between the former communist rivals as both Moscow and Beijing face rising tensions with the West. Although Moscow and Beijing have previously dismissed the possibility of forming a military alliance, Putin said such a prospect cannot be ruled out. He also noted that Russia shares highly sensitive military technologies with China that have greatly contributed to enhancing its defense capability.
