China and Russia have begun joint live-fire naval exercises in the South China Sea, strengthening their military cooperation amid rising tensions with the United States. At least six ships are expected to participate in air defense and anti-submarine exercises.
China and Russia have begun live-fire naval exercises in the South China Sea, state media reported. China and Russia have strengthened military and trade ties in recent years following US sanctions on both countries.
The opening ceremony of the Russian-Chinese naval exercise “Maritime Cooperation – 2024” took place in the Chinese port of Zhanjiang, the Russian Defense Ministry said on the messaging app Telegram.
During their maritime maneuvers, the crews of the ships of the Russian Pacific Fleet and the People’s Liberation Army Navy were to conduct joint air defense and anti-submarine exercises with the participation of the People’s Liberation Army’s naval anti-submarine aviation, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
Both countries were to deploy at least three ships each for the three-day drills, China’s Global Times newspaper said, citing the People’s Liberation Army Navy.
Russian state news agency RIA reported that the Russian and Chinese navies conducted artillery fire as part of the joint exercises, citing the Russian Pacific Fleet.
The exercises follow the completion of another joint naval patrol in the North Pacific, which, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, involved a detachment of ships from the Russian Pacific Fleet, including two corvettes, the Rezky and the Gromky.
Wang Guangzheng of the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Southern Command told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV that “the China-Russia joint patrol has promoted deepening and practical cooperation between the two countries in multiple directions and fields.”
“And it has effectively enhanced the two sides’ ability to jointly respond to threats to maritime security,” he said.
The participating vessels set off from a naval port in Zhanjiang in southern China’s Guangdong province on Monday, the paper added, citing a statement from the People’s Liberation Army Navy.
The outlet did not specify where in the disputed waterway the exercises would take place.
China claims control of almost all of the South China Sea, including the disputed Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippines maintains a rusting warship that it deliberately grounded in 1999 to reinforce its maritime claims. This shoal has been the focus of a recent standoff between the two countries.
Rising tensions have prompted US officials to remind Beijing that its mutual defense obligations to the Philippines are ironclad.
China and Russia declared a “boundless” partnership in 2022, when President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing just days before sending thousands of troops into Ukraine. China has yet to condemn the invasion and has increased its exports to Russia, helping Moscow keep its wartime economy afloat.
The “boundaryless” partnership has seen bilateral trade reach a record $240.1 billion in 2023, up 26.3 percent from a year earlier, according to Chinese customs data.
Meanwhile, trade between China and the United States fell 11.6 percent last year to $664.5 billion, according to Chinese customs data.
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China and Russia Conduct Joint Naval Exercises in the South China Sea, Strengthening Military Ties
Amidst rising tensions with the United States, China and Russia have commenced joint live-fire naval exercises in the South China Sea, a move that underscores their escalating military cooperation. This cooperative drill, named “Maritime Cooperation – 2024,” involves the participation of at least six ships and is expected to focus on air defense and anti-submarine maneuvers. The exercises commenced with an opening ceremony held at the Chinese port of Zhanjiang, as announced by the Russian Defense Ministry on the messaging app Telegram.
Joint Maneuvers: A Display of Military Collaboration
During these maritime exercises, crews from both the Russian Pacific Fleet and the People’s Liberation Army Navy will engage in coordinated drills, including air defense and anti-submarine operations. The People’s Liberation Army’s naval anti-submarine aviation will also be involved in these maneuvers. According to China’s Global Times newspaper, which cited the People’s Liberation Army Navy, both countries are deploying at least three ships each for this three-day exercise.
Live-Fire Drills and a Recent Joint Patrol
The Russian Pacific Fleet confirmed on Tuesday that live artillery fire was conducted as part of the joint exercises. These exercises, taking place in the South China Sea, follow the completion of another joint naval patrol in the North Pacific. This patrol involved a contingent of ships from the Russian Pacific Fleet, including two corvettes, the Rezky and the Gromky. Wang Guangzheng, a spokesperson for the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Southern Command, emphasized the significance of these joint endeavors, stating that the “China-Russia joint patrol has promoted deepening and practical cooperation between the two countries in multiple directions and fields.” He further highlighted that these collaborations effectively bolster their “ability to jointly respond to threats to maritime security.”
Escalating Military Partnerships and US Concerns
The joint naval exercises are a testament to the growing military partnership between China and Russia, particularly in the backdrop of increasing tensions with the United States. The two nations formally declared a “boundless” partnership in 2022, a declaration made just days before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. China has repeatedly refrained from condemning the invasion and has actively increased its exports to Russia, providing crucial economic support to Moscow during the conflict.
Economic Ties and Trade Patterns
This “boundless” partnership has resulted in a remarkable surge in bilateral trade, reaching a record $240.1 billion in 2023. This represents a substantial 26.3 percent increase from the previous year, according to Chinese customs data. In contrast, trade between China and the United States experienced a decline of 11.6 percent last year, reaching $664.5 billion, as reported by Chinese customs data.
Strategic Significance of the South China Sea
The South China Sea, the subject of these joint naval exercises, holds immense strategic importance. China claims dominion over almost the entirety of the sea, including the disputed Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippines maintains a grounded warship on this shoal, a move intended to bolster its maritime claims. Recently, this shoal has been the focal point of a tense standoff between China and the Philippines.
US Defense Commitments and Tensions
Rising tensions in the region have prompted US officials to reiterate Washington’s ironclad mutual defense obligations to the Philippines. These exercises and the intensified military partnership between China and Russia serve as a stark reminder of the evolving geopolitical landscape and the escalating competition for regional influence. The South China Sea has emerged as a key area of contention, with the ongoing military cooperation between China and Russia further adding to the geopolitical complexities of the region.
