China and Russia set for new naval exercises in Sea of Japan

China’s Defense Ministry announced on Monday the start of joint naval and air exercises with Russia, dubbed “Northern United-2024,” scheduled for this month. The drills will occur in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, though specific details were not provided.

As AP reports, the exercises aim to enhance strategic cooperation and strengthen the ability of both nations to address security threats. The two navies will also participate together in Russia’s “Great Ocean-24” exercise and conduct joint patrols in the Pacific, marking their fifth such joint operation.

China has refrained from condemning Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year, and has instead criticized the U.S. and NATO for provoking Russia. While China has not supplied arms to Russia, it plays a vital economic role as a major buyer of Russian oil and gas and a supplier of electronics and other goods with both civilian and military applications.

The joint exercises underscore the growing alignment between Russia and China, both of which challenge the Western-led liberal democratic order. China has also voiced strong opposition to foreign military activities in the Taiwan Strait, which it claims as its own, despite international recognition of the strait as international waters. This includes recent reports of German navy ships planning to transit the strait for the first time in over two decades.

[Information sourced from AP]