Amid New Cold War Tensions... China and Russia Conduct Joint Naval Exercises in the East Sea

Xi Jinping (right), President of China, and Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, shake hands before attending the 11th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa emerging economies) Summit held in Bras?lia, the capital of Brazil, in November 2019.

The Russian and Chinese navies have completed a three-day joint maritime exercise in the East Sea.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense on the 18th (local time), the joint naval exercise "Maritime Union-2021" conducted by the Russian and Chinese navies took place near the Peter the Great Bay, close to Vladivostok in the Russian Far East, which is part of the East Sea, and concluded on the 17th.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated, "In the final phase of the exercise, warships from both countries conducted training to search for and block a simulated enemy submarine with the support of anti-submarine patrol aircraft in the designated waters."

Prior to this, the two militaries reportedly carried out more than 20 training activities, including communications, passing through mine-threatened areas, removal of floating mines, joint maneuvers, air attack defense, and live-fire drills.

The two militaries began the exercise on the 14th, focusing on securing strategic maritime transport routes.

The joint naval exercises between Russia and China have been conducted almost annually since 2012.

The exercises have been held not only in the East Sea but also in the West Sea, the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and even the Mediterranean Sea.

However, last year’s exercise was canceled due to COVID-19.

Russia and China have emphasized that the joint maritime exercises are intended solely to enhance the coordination capabilities of their naval fleets and are not aimed at any third country.

Nevertheless, this exercise, conducted amid escalating confrontation between Russia and China?who are showing an unprecedented close relationship against Western allies led by the United States?in a so-called "new Cold War" context, is being interpreted as a reflection of the military tensions between the two blocs.