Early in July, China and Russia began a combined military drill at sea, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced on Friday.
According to a written statement from the ministry, the Joint Sea-2024 exercise is happening in the waters and airspace next to Zhanjiang, which is in the Guangdong Province of south China.
It further stated that the exercise is being conducted in accordance with the bilateral agreement between the two armed forces and the yearly military engagement plan.
According to a spokesman, the purpose of the current maneuver is to demonstrate the commitment and ability of both sides to work together to address difficulties related to maritime security and maintain peace and stability on a global and regional scale.
However, Japan has expressed grave worries over cooperative operations close to its borders, citing issues related to national security.
Although some see the combined drills as a reaction to the growing US military presence in the region, they are nonetheless a noteworthy demonstration of China and Russia’s strategic relationship.