Russian Far East: In the latest proof of their growing political and military alignment, China and Russia are conducting joint naval drills off the coast.
Kickoff start Russian Far East
Joint Sea 2021 began on Thursday with a ceremony in Russia’s Peter the Great Gulf and will conclude on Sunday.
The drills would include communications, anti-mine, anti-air, and anti-submarine operations, combined maneuvering, and shooting on seaborne targets, according to Chinese state media.
Anti-submarine warfare planes
While such drills have taken place in the past, the reports claim that this is the first time China has dispatched anti-submarine warfare planes and warships with a displacement of more than 10,000 tonnes for training abroad.
Opposing the dominant U.S. influence in global affairs
China and Russia are united in their opposition to the United States’ hegemony in international affairs and have been severe critics of Washington’s foreign policy blunders in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
While Beijing normally follows Moscow’s lead on issues like Iran, it has become more proactive in defending what it perceives to be its essential interests in Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the Indo-Pacific as a whole.
Beijing has slammed a deal for Australia to get a fleet of eight nuclear-powered submarines built with US technology, which was unveiled last month and is widely perceived as a reaction to China’s significantly improved naval capabilities.
