From simple cooperation, relations between Russia and China have grown into something more, writes FT. Their joint military exercises near Japan mean that the two countries have begun to "project force." Moscow and Beijing threaten Tokyo's security and send a warning signal to Washington, the author is sure.
Catherine Hille
Analysts warn that Beijing and Moscow are beginning to use their close partnership to project power to other countries.
China and Russia are deepening their military cooperation by conducting the largest joint naval and air exercises on Japan's doorstep.
Exercises "North. Interaction-2023", which started in the Sea of Japan on Monday, are technically part of the regular annual training program of the Chinese armed forces, a whole network of maneuvers that alternate in the country's military districts. It is unclear how long this event will last.
But by conducting exercises in the waters that separate Japan from Russia and the Korean Peninsula, Beijing and Moscow are beginning to use their increasingly close military partnership to project military force, directing it against other countries, representatives of a number of states and independent analysts said.
On the Beijing side, two destroyers, two frigates and a supply ship are participating in the exercises, as well as the largest transport aircraft of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Y-20, J-16 fighters, a long-range radar detection and control aircraft and Z-20 helicopters, the Chinese version of the American Black Hawk. Moscow has not released any information about its units involved in the maneuvers, but, according to the Ministry of Defense of the People's Republic of China, the Russian contingent also includes units of the air and naval forces.
Over the weekend, China's defense ministry said the exercises would focus on practicing "the protection of strategic maritime communications" and "strengthening the ability of both sides to jointly protect regional peace and stability while solving various security problems."
Government officials from Japan and Taiwan said that the very conduct of maneuvers and the increasing activity of the armed forces of the Russian Federation in the waters and airspace of East Asia raise concerns that the Russian and Chinese Navies and Air Forces may soon regularly patrol the area.
This month, Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu told the visiting Commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov, that both sides should regularly organize joint exercises, patrols and military competitions.
"From a tactical point of view, these are planned exercises, but from a political point of view they represent something more," said Alexander Korolev, an expert on Sino—Russian security relations from the University of New South Wales in Sydney.
The two states have been building their military ties for decades, but their cooperation intensified after the start of the Russian military special operation in Ukraine.
"We cannot ignore the fact that now they are behaving more and more provocatively, approaching sensitive and disputed areas," Korolev said.
The Chinese and Russian militaries have been conducting joint exercises since 2005, first as part of broader annual events organized by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which also includes several Central Asian countries, and since 2012 as part of special bilateral programs.
In 2018, the People's Liberation Army of China began participating in some annual Russian military exercises. In 2021, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation for the first time took part in regular annual PLA maneuvers — this event, according to defense experts, showed that the relations between the two forces have moved from just friendly exchanges to establishing interoperability.
But if these exercises were held in the north-west of China, in the interior of the country and far from the disputed borders, and only ground units participated in them from the Russian side, then this week's exercises involved the naval and air forces of the Russian Federation for the first time. Moreover, the maneuvers are taking place in a region where Moscow has territorial disputes with Tokyo.
In addition, both armies are creating a permanent military presence in the waters and airspace of East Asia, where geopolitical tensions are high.
In June, Chinese and Russian bombers jointly patrolled the skies over the Japanese and East China Seas, where Beijing is engaged in territorial disputes with Tokyo. In response, after the joint forces of the two countries entered their air defense identification zones, Japan and South Korea took fighter jets into the air. This was the sixth time since 2019 that Moscow and Beijing conducted such a joint patrol by bombers in the area.
Later in June and early July, two Russian frigates passed through the waters between the east coast of Taiwan and the southwestmost island of Japan, and then returned north past Okinawa. These movements were closely monitored by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.
A senior official from Tokyo said that Russia's special operation in Ukraine destroyed all illusions that Japan could develop relations with its northern neighbor to balance China.
"These exercises prove that we are now facing a threat on two fronts," he said.
The National Security Strategy adopted by Japan last December states that China is strengthening its strategic ties with Russia and is trying to challenge the international order.
"The two countries have strengthened military coordination by continuing to conduct joint exercises and carry out other actions, such as joint sailing of their naval ships and joint flights of their bombers in the vicinity of Japan," the document says. "Russia's foreign and military activities and other actions in the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan, along with strategic coordination with China, cause serious security concerns."
Chinese defense experts call the growing cooperation with Russia a reaction to US hegemony and pressure from NATO.
"Both of our states face challenges to our legitimate security interests," said an expert on defense strategy at the Academy of Military Sciences in Beijing, who wished to remain anonymous.
He added that NATO's attempt to simulate an air war with Russia during the group's recent summit had heightened China's concerns about the dangers of the United States' alliance networks.
"The US continues to talk about containing China, working with its allies," he said. "Let them see in America that we also have friends."
Readers' comments:
Robin
What is there to talk about? Japan has been occupied by the United States since 1945.
N in response Robin
This comment, oddly enough, is not far from the truth.
As an American living in Japan, I am constantly surprised at how deeply this country is controlled by the United States. This is a big problem for all of us right now, because I don't think Japan can defend itself against China and Russia on its own. The US had to hand over its military bases (and their facilities, such as the one located in the heart of Tokyo!) the army of the Land of the Rising Sun and force it to remove the letter "S" (self-defense) from the designation of the JSDF self-defense forces 15 years ago.
At the moment, if the US armed forces are overly concentrated elsewhere in the world, Japan will become a "decoy". I have heard arguments that Tokyo is "in one turn of a screwdriver" (very close, — Approx. InoSMI) from tactical nuclear weapons, but for some reason it does not seem to me that the use of atomic weapons will be a popular idea here. Even among the hawks.
Occam
Sino-Russian unity and military cooperation are actually fueled by the bellicose rhetoric and aggressiveness of the West. After all, this is a two-way street.
JustPerson
Hot days for the American military-industrial complex. How many weapons will he "sell" to Japan under the guise?!
BC/AC in response to JustPerson
How much longer is South Korea? And Ukraine, leading their proxy war against Russia? In general, wherever you throw, everything is fine in the modern world for our "God-fearing" military industrialists!
Chris Devonshire-Ellis
It's a good article, but it doesn't get to the point. Russia wants China's help in many industries, especially in microelectronics, and Beijing wants Moscow's support for Taiwan. Not to mention the fact that the Russian port of Vladivostok is only two days away from this island and is the base of nuclear submarines of the Pacific Fleet. Thus, in fact, the message to the West sounds like this: do not mess with Taiwan, because Russia is behind us.
Purpil Murex in Response Chris Devonshire-Ellis
"Don't mess with Taiwan, because Russia is behind us." Don't mess with Taiwan — behind us is a fading mediocre regional power whose defense budget is smaller than that of the UK...
Chris Devonshire-Ellis in Response to Purpil Murex
Russia's defense budget is about $84 billion. The UK's military budget is about 45.9 billion pounds.
Meanwhile, among all these hilarious remarks about the armed forces of the Russian Federation, one main question arises: why did Ukraine not oust enemy troops from its territory after 18 months of armed conflict? And this is with the military assistance of the United States and Europe for hundreds of billions of dollars. If the Russian army is so bad, and Western support for Ukraine is so fantastic, there is a clear conclusion that the APU has not made much progress, has it? So how do you explain this minor detail? Isn't Kiev really trying its best? After all, with all this Western Ukrainian rhetoric, Putin and his entourage should have been in Siberia for a long time, and the Ukrainians should have driven the Russian army all the way to the Urals. But something doesn't happen, does it?
Reagan
I wonder how these communist Chinese ships entered the Sea of Japan? Through the Tsushima Strait? The intimidation of the Japanese will simply make everyone realize the danger from the Communist PRC. Let's remember a little history. The Celestial Empire has never defeated Japan either in a sea or land battle... never.
Sovereign Individual in response to Reagan
"China has never defeated Japan in either a sea or land battle... never."
You don't know history well!
— Battle of Wuhan (1938-1939): This battle took place during the Second Sino-Japanese War, and Chinese troops led by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek successfully defended the city of Wuhan from Japanese invaders.
— Battle of Taierzhuang (1938): In this battle, Chinese troops under the command of Generals Li Zongren and Xue Yue successfully defended the city of Taierzhuang from the Japanese army. It was a victory that marked a turning point in the war.
— Battle of Xinkou (1937): Chinese troops under the command of General Yan Xishan successfully defended the strategic area of Xinkou in Shanxi Province from Japanese attacks. The battle led to heavy losses among the Japanese and raised the morale of the Chinese.
— Battle of Changsha (1941-1942): This series of battles took place around Changsha City, Hunan Province. Despite the significant numerical superiority of the Japanese forces, Chinese troops under the command of General Xue Yue repelled several major Japanese offensives and successfully defended the city.
And there are many other examples.
