China has announced that it will hold joint military drills with Russia this month.
This comes as the allies deepen ties that have seen NATO label Beijing an “enabler” of Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
China’s Defence Ministry disclosed that naval and air forces will take part in the “North-Joint 2024” exercises in the skies and around the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, off Russia’s coast.
“This exercise aims to deepen the strategic cooperation level between the Chinese and Russian militaries and enhance their ability to jointly deal with security threats,” the ministry said.
Both China and Russia plan to deploy their fleets to the Pacific Ocean for joint patrolling.
Additionally, Chinese troops are expected to participate in the Russian strategic drills “Ocean-2024.”
The ministry did not give a specific date for the drills.
In July, Russia and China also conducted joint exercises in the waters and airspace around Zhanjiang, a city in Guangdong Province in southern China.
These took place against the backdrop of NATO leaders’ statements that China had become a decisive enabler in Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Bilateral relations between China and Russia have strengthened following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
China provides economic and political support to Russia, and assists in evading sanctions, although it formally avoids direct military assistance.
Both countries declare an unlimited partnership aimed against the West, which enhances their cooperation in trade, energy, and defense.
China has also refused to criticize Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Chinese Top Diplomat Set To Visit Russia
The announcement comes as China’s top diplomat Wang Yi is set to visit Russia this week for a BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) security meeting of emerging economies.
Chinese foreign ministry Spokesperson, Mao Ning announced on Monday, September 9, 2024, that Wang, China’s Foreign Minister and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, will attend the 14th meeting of the BRICS high-ranking officials responsible for security matters and national security advisors in St. Petersburg, Russia from September 11 to 12, 2024.
Mao disclosed that Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, was invited by the Secretary of Russia’s Security Council, Sergei Shoigu.
The Chinese spokesperson revealed that during the meeting, Wang will exchange opinions with his BRICS colleagues “on the current situation in the field of international security and key international and regional issues.”
Additionally, the top Chinese diplomat will lay the groundwork for the BRICS meeting in Kazan set for late October.
“BRICS countries have always been committed to supporting world peace, aiding the general development and practicing multilateralism and promoting global governance in a more fair and reasonable way.”
Mao Ning
She added that China hopes to work with BRICS partners to bolster the group’s strategic partnership and actively assist in maintaining peace and security worldwide.
Wang’s visit comes in advance of a BRICS summit next month in the southwestern city of Kazan that President Xi Jinping is expected to attend.
Russian President Vladimir Putin last week said he was expecting Xi at the Kazan meeting from October 22 to 24, 2024.
The Kremlin hopes that the upcoming summit will be a chance to expand its influence and forge closer economic alliances.
Putin has looked to the Chinese leader for support since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with the allies boosting trade to record highs as Moscow faces heavy economic sanctions from the West.
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