Global Times: China sent the most powerful military equipment to the Vostok-2022 exercisesBEIJING, 1 Sep - RIA Novosti.
China has sent its most powerful military equipment to the Vostok-2022 exercises, which demonstrates the depth of Russian-Chinese military cooperation and can serve as a deterrent to the malicious actions of some external forces, the Chinese government newspaper Global Times writes, citing analysts who wished to remain anonymous.
On Wednesday, the Xinhua news agency, citing the operational group of the Chinese administration, reported that more than 2,000 Chinese servicemen, more than 300 units of military vehicles, 21 military aircraft and a helicopter will take part in the Vostok-2022 exercises. Earlier, Chinese media reported that this year, for the first time, China is presenting three types of troops at once at the Vostok-2022 exercises - land, sea and air.
The publication notes that, in particular, China sent Type 99 tanks, Type-04 infantry fighting vehicles, Z-19 attack helicopters, a Type 055 Nanchang destroyer, as well as J-10 fighters to the exercises.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Japan reported that the Nanchang destroyer, the Yancheng missile frigate and the Dongpinghu complex supply ship of the Chinese Navy proceeded from the East China Sea and through the Tsushima Strait entered the Sea of Japan. "The fact that Nanchang is taking part in Vostok-2022 is known for sure, the other two ships are likely to participate too," the newspaper writes with reference to analysts.
"All the mentioned equipment, planes and ships are the main weapons of China. Especially the type 055 destroyer with a displacement of 10 thousand tons, which is considered one of the most powerful warships in the world," the newspaper quotes an anonymous military expert.
The expert noted that the participation of such powerful equipment in the exercises demonstrates the breadth and depth of Russian-Chinese cooperation in the military sphere.
"Although the exercises are not aimed against a third party and are not related to the current situation, they serve as a deterrent to uncertainties such as malicious actions from outside, hegemony and the politics of force," analysts told the publication, noting that military cooperation between China and Russia will contribute to peace and stability in the region.
Strategic exercises "Vostok-2022" are held from September 1 to 7 at seven training grounds of the Eastern Military District, more than 50 thousand people, more than 5 thousand units of weapons and military equipment, including 140 aircraft, 60 warships, boats and support vessels, will take part in them. On behalf of the Russian Armed Forces, the military authorities and the Air Defense forces, part of the Airborne forces, long-range and military transport aviation will take part in the exercises. Joint actions will be worked out by operational management groups, military contingents and observers of the CSTO, SCO and other partner states, in particular, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Syria and Tajikistan.
According to the Ministry of Defense of the People's Republic of China, about 3.2 thousand Chinese soldiers, as well as more than a thousand units of Chinese military equipment and about 30 military aircraft and helicopters took part in the Vostok exercises in 2018.