BEIJING: Chinese naval vessels set sail this weekend to participate in joint manoeuvres with the Russian military, Chinese defence authorities said on Sunday.

Ties between Moscow and Beijing have grown closer since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, a move China has not condemned.

The two have ramped up defence contacts, including joint military drills in recent months.

The latest air-and-sea exercises will take place in the Sea of Japan and are aimed at “safeguarding strategic maritime routes”, the Chinese Ministry of Defence had said on Saturday.

The Chinese military has sent five warships, including a guided-missile destroyer, it added in the statement published on Sunday, without specifying when the drills will take place.

Air-and-sea exercises will take place in the Sea of Japan, aiming at ‘safeguarding strategic maritime routes’

China and Russia carried out a joint air patrol over the Seas of Japan and East China last month, and the flights prompted South Korea to deploy fighter jets as a precaution. It was the sixth such China-Russia patrol in the area since 2019.

China’s defence minister Li Shangfu this month advocated boosting naval cooperation with Russia. Beijing has emerged as Moscow’s most important ally since the Ukraine war began.

China says it is a neutral party in the conflict but its refusal to condemn the invasion has led to accusations from Ukraine’s allies that it is favouring Russia.

Codenamed “Northern/Interaction-2023”, the drill marks enhanced military cooperation between China and Russia and is taking place as Beijing continues to rebuff US calls to resume military communication.

On Saturday, the ministry said Russian naval and air forces would participate in the drill taking place in the Sea of Japan. This would be the first time both Russian forces take part in the drill, state newspaper Global Times cited military observers as saying.

Gromkiy and Sovershenniy, two Russian warships taking part in the Sea of Japan drill, had earlier this month conducted separate training with the Chinese navy in Shanghai on formation movements, communication and sea rescues.

Before making port at the financial hub of Shanghai, the same ships had sailed passed Taiwan and Japan, prompting both Taipei and Tokyo to monitor the Russian warships.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2023