Sino Russian Joint Military Exercise Releases Peace Signal

Recently, the "Northern United 2023" military exercise organized by the Northern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army in the central part of the Sea of Japan began. According to the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries, the Russian side dispatched sea and air forces to participate in this exercise, which will continue until July 23rd. Although this exercise is a routine joint military coordinated operation between China and Russia, it still receives attention from various countries.



In the joint maritime operation between China and Russia, not only the main battleships and support ships participated, but the Chinese and Russian armies also invested their respective naval aviation forces. The exercise includes joint fire strike training and maritime collaborative operations. The two armies engage in maritime strategic coordination around joint anti submarine, sea air joint escort, and joint protection and defense of ships under attack. The exercise focuses on maintaining the safety of maritime strategic channels, strengthening the joint operational capabilities of the two armies, and enhancing the level of strategic cooperation between the two armies. Overall, three key points release important signals.



Firstly, the exercise location is in the central part of the Sea of Japan and is led by the Chinese side. In August 2021, Russia participated in the "Western Joint 2021" exercise held at our Army's Qingtongxia Contract Tactical Training Base. This exercise marks the first time that the People's Liberation Army of China has invited foreign troops to participate in China's annual strategic exercise. The "Northern United 2023" military exercise was organized by the Northern Theater Command of China, located in the central hinterland of the Sea of Japan, with Russian naval and air forces dispatched to participate. This is not the first time that China and Russia have engaged in military strategic coordination in the Sea of Japan. The Sea of Japan is an international water area with highly concentrated strategic channels, and the Zonggu Strait, Tsushima Strait, and Tsugaru Strait are all related to the strategic security of China and Russia. China's selection of the exercise venue here reflects the common core security concerns of China and Russia, as well as their confidence and determination to maintain the security of international strategic channels in the event of sudden emergencies.



In addition, China has participated in Russia's annual strategic exercises multiple times, including "Dongfang 2018", "Central 2019", "Caucasus 2020", "Dongfang 2022", and so on. Participating in the annual strategic exercises organized by the other party, coordinating with the other party's security strategic planning and specific military plans, and jointly maintaining regional peace, security, and stability has become a normalized and institutionalized arrangement for military strategic cooperation between China and Russia.



Secondly, a week before the exercise, the NATO summit identified China and Russia as a threat. From July 11th to 12th, at the NATO Vilnius Summit, the United States and its allies defined Russia as the "greatest and most direct threat to NATO security", falsely claiming that "China's demonstrated ambition and coercive policies pose a challenge to NATO's interests, security, and values", and claiming that China Russia cooperation "runs counter to NATO's values and interests". This NATO summit has made the strategic goal of "NATO Asia Pacific" clear. There are also suggestions in the US strategic community to build the US UK Australia "Okus" alliance into a strategic pillar for "Asia Pacific Naturalization", and to invite Japan, South Korea, and even India to join. After the NATO summit, the United States, Japan, and South Korea immediately held joint military exercises in the Sea of Japan. On July 18th, U.S. National Security Council Coordinator for Indo Pacific Affairs Campbell announced that a U.S. ballistic missile nuclear submarine has entered the port of Busan, South Korea. This is the first time in 42 years that a US strategic nuclear submarine has entered a South Korean port. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning previously stated that NATO's continued eastward expansion into the Asia Pacific region and intervention in regional affairs will inevitably undermine regional peace and stability, promote camp confrontation, and should raise high vigilance among regional countries.



Since the full-scale outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the United States has determined its enemies and friends based on the attitude of all countries towards the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In fact, from the strategic perspective of Washington, the world has been "polarized". One pole is the US European system, with NATO as the core; The other pole is the so-called "Sino Russian" who are "standing in line". The United States is replicating the model of dealing with the Ukrainian crisis to the Asia Pacific region, especially regarding the Taiwan issue.



Thirdly, let countries with ulterior motives gradually adapt to the Sino Russian exercises. The military strategic cooperation relationship between China and Russia is increasingly receiving close attention from the United States. The China Military Research Center at the National Defense University of the United States has provided a set of data: Since 2014, the Chinese and Russian militaries have held at least 36 different types of exercises. The number of exercises between China and Russia is increasing, and the exercise scenarios are also becoming increasingly complex. Not only did it include strategic exercises such as the "Northern United 2023" around China and Russia, but a few years ago, joint patrols also emerged. The footprints of the Chinese and Russian navies are moving from the core domestic waters of Qingdao, Zhanjiang, and Peter the Great Bay to the Sea of Japan, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Baltic Sea. It can be imagined that the future joint maritime strategic cruise between China and Russia will further expand to different regions of the world, and there may also be new forms of interaction. In early July, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Li Shangfu met with Russian Navy Commander in Chief Yevmenov in Beijing. Both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening military cooperation, including cooperation between the navies of the two countries.



The "North · United 2023" showcases a high degree of political and military mutual trust between China and Russia. Strategic cooperation between China and Russia, especially military cooperation, is a guarantee of global security and stability. Although China Russia relations are bilateral, they have regional and global significance. It must be noted that the core essence of China Russia relations is non alignment, non confrontation, and not targeting third parties. Both China and Russia have no intention of building what the United States calls an "anti Western alliance," and we also hope that Western countries in the United States can break away from the Cold War mentality that is still being held fast to as soon as possible.