Russian warships left on Monday to take part in joint naval exercises with China, an exercise that shows the deepening defense ties between the two countries as they grapple with tensions with the United States.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the Varyag missile cruiser, the destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov and two corvettes from Russia’s Pacific Fleet will take part in exercises in the East China Sea from Wednesday.
The ministry said the Chinese navy planned to deploy several surface warships and a submarine for the exercise. Russian and Chinese planes will also take part in the drills, according to the ministry.
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Moscow and Beijing have shown their increasing military cooperation in recent months.
In November, Russian Air Force Tu-95 bombers and Chinese H-6K bombers conducted joint patrols over the Sea of Japan and East China Sea. As part of the drills, Russian bombers landed in China for the first time, and Chinese bombers flew to an airbase in Russia.
The Varyag missile cruiser of Russia’s Pacific Fleet sets sail on December 19, 2022 for a joint Russian-Chinese naval drill. The joint naval exercise is scheduled to start later this week in the East China Sea.
(Russian Defense Ministry press service via AP)
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In September, China sent more than 2,000 soldiers along with more than 300 military vehicles, 21 combat aircraft and three warships to participate in a comprehensive joint exercise with Russia. The drills marked the first time China had sent forces from three branches of its military to participate in a single Russian drill, in what was described as a display of the breadth and depth of mutual trust between China and Russia.
Defense cooperation between Moscow and Beijing has strengthened since Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his troops to Ukraine on February 24.
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China, which has declared a “limitless” friendship with Russia, has pointedly refused to criticize Moscow’s actions, blaming the United States and NATO for provoking the Kremlin, and criticized sanctions imposed on Russia.
Russia, in turn, has strongly backed China amid tensions with the United States over Taiwan.
