Joint Maritime Exercise Conducted in the East Sea by China and Russia... Strengthening Anti-Submarine Training in Response to AUKUS

Deployment of Latest 055-Class Destroyer... Strengthening Anti-Submarine Warfare Capability
Joint Anti-Submarine Mission and Live-Fire Training to Assess Blue-Water Capability

[Image source=Russian Ministry of Defense website]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S.-led Indo-Pacific military alliance Quad is conducting naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal, while China and Russian forces have announced joint naval exercises in the East Sea in response. China, in particular, appears to have deployed various anti-submarine warfare assets in this exercise to demonstrate military power, seemingly conscious of the recently launched AUKUS alliance between the U.S., the U.K., and Australia, as well as Australia's push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

According to China's state-run Global Times on the 14th (local time), Chinese and Russian forces announced they will conduct joint naval exercises in the East Sea from the 14th to the 17th. This move is interpreted as a show of force in response to the Quad member countries' naval exercises that began on the 12th in the Bay of Bengal.

In particular, the Chinese government is reported to have deployed various anti-submarine warfare assets in this exercise, mindful of Australia's acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. According to the Global Times, China deployed the state-of-the-art Type 055 destroyer, known for its advanced anti-submarine capabilities, for the first time in an overseas joint exercise. Additionally, various naval and air force assets, including anti-submarine combat aircraft and shipborne helicopters, participated in the exercise.

The Russian Ministry of Defense also stated that "submarines and destroyer squadrons of the Russian Pacific Fleet will conduct joint exercises with the Chinese military in the East Sea," explaining that "this is a resumption of special naval exercises that could not be held last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic."

Both Chinese and Russian forces plan to conduct joint anti-submarine missions and live-fire drills during this exercise, while also verifying their blue-water combat capabilities. Consequently, concerns are rising that military tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait regions will further escalate.