New York Times: Joint exercises between Russia and China raise US concerns

According to experts’ estimates, although the level of interaction between the Russian and Chinese armed forces has not yet reached the same level of interaction achieved by NATO forces, the joint exercises between the two countries are causing concern among the American leadership. Becky Wasser, head of the Center for Analysis of New American Security, admitted that her colleagues are developing models of potential conflicts, including conflicts between the United States and China.

The newspaper also noted that China needs Russia, because Moscow is “the only major partner capable of counterbalancing the United States.” If the United States and its allies wanted to start a naval blockade of China, the Russian-Chinese land border “could prove to be increasingly vital for the supply of weapons, oil and other goods,” the New York Times journalists believe. According to their estimates, Russia could also close off access to airspace near its borders, especially near Japan, where there are American bases.

According to Chinese military expert Song Zhongping, military exercises, especially near Alaska, will repeatedly complicate matters “to counter US pressure,” and the bloc the US is building to confront China.

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NORAD) had previously said it tracked two Russian Tu-95 and two Chinese H-6 aircraft in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone on July 24. But US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the Russian and Chinese aircraft did not enter US airspace. State Department press secretary Matthew Miller said Washington does not consider Russian and Chinese aircraft flying in the Alaskan region to be a security threat.

Source: TASS