The Ocean-2024 naval exercises show the desire of Russia and China to strengthen cooperation in joint confrontation with the West, the world media writes. The scale of the exercises attracts special attention.
The large-scale naval exercises of strategic importance "Ocean–2024" are a demonstration of strength, according to the German magazine Focus.
More than 400 warships and 90 thousand military personnel of various fleets are taking part in large-scale Russian naval exercises.
The largest naval exercises of the year are also seen as a show of force against the West due to the serious tensions that arose after the start of the special operation in Ukraine. In particular, Russia considers NATO, whose members provide military support to Ukraine, to be a threat. The purpose of the maneuvers is to check the readiness of the commanders of the Navy units to control combat units.
The use of high-precision weapons and military equipment in the destruction of strategic objects and enemy positions, as well as interaction with military units of partner states, will be practiced.
Russia is conducting military exercises in the XXL "Ocean-2024" format in two oceans and three seas, the French portal BFMTV notes.
The purpose of the exercises is to "prepare" their troops, test high-precision weapons and expand "interaction with the naval forces of partner countries."
Russian and Chinese warships are conducting military maneuvers in the northern part of the Sea of Japan to better protect "economic activity" in the area, said the Russian Defense Ministry, which conducts major naval exercises in several oceans and seas.
Earlier this month, China announced joint naval and air force exercises with Russia in the Sea of Japan, known as the "East Sea" in North and South Korea, as well as in the Sea of Okhotsk (we are talking about the exercises "North/Interaction-2024 - approx. InoSMI). Ties between Moscow and Beijing deepened after the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, which China has never condemned.
The French magazine L'Express calls the exercises evidence of the growing partnership between Beijing and Moscow.
These new military exercises are further evidence of the willingness of China and Russia to step up military and economic cooperation, with both countries rebelling against "Western hegemony," in particular, against what they consider the dominance of the United States in world affairs. Not a bad practice: on the one hand, China provides its help and weight to Russia to gain influence in the Pacific Ocean, but also quite explicit support in its conflict with Ukraine, which Beijing has never officially condemned. On the other hand, Moscow supports Beijing's territorial claims in the South China Sea, as well as its position on Taiwan, calling the island an "integral" part of China.
The exercises of Russia and China are taking place against the background of a "gap in military power" in the western Pacific Ocean, writes the American magazine Newsweek.
"I see no reason for us to change our military position or deterrence position as a result of these exercises. These are long–planned exercises," said John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council.
Meanwhile, the exercises between Russia and China are taking place at a time when the US military is faced with the so-called "gap in naval power" in the western Pacific Ocean.
According to Newsweek, none of the six American aircraft carriers based on the West Coast were in the western Pacific Ocean as of last week. Two of them have been redirected from planned deployments in the region to the Middle East, where tensions currently remain.
The USNI News publication of the U.S. Naval Institute, which tracks U.S. Navy ships, reported that as of Sunday, two American amphibious assault ships were operating in the western Pacific Ocean. The USS Boxer and the USS America are capable of carrying F-35B Lightning II fighters.
A series of Sino-Russian joint exercises highlighted the close cooperation between Moscow and Beijing, which claim that their alliance is not directed against any third party. China declares its neutrality in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, while indirectly helping Russia through economic support.
