China, Russia to conduct joint naval and air drills this month
China and Russia are have announced to hold joint naval and air drills this month, further cementing their alliance in the face of rising regional tensions.
China and Russia are have announced to hold joint naval and air drills this month, further cementing their alliance in the face of rising regional tensions. Dubbed “Northern United-2024,” these exercises will take place in the strategic waters of the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, highlighting the strengthening bond between the two powers.
While specific dates and details remain undisclosed, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense confirmed that both nations’ navies would also embark on a fifth joint cruise in the Pacific as part of Russia’s “Great Ocean-24” exercise. The frequency of such joint operations signals a continued commitment to military cooperation, a move seen by many as a challenge to Western influence in the region.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, China has maintained a delicate stance, neither condemning nor endorsing the conflict. Instead, Beijing has called for an end to hostilities while quietly bolstering Russia’s economy, purchasing oil, gas, and other critical goods to help stabilize Moscow amid international sanctions.
However, China’s growing military presence and assertive posture, particularly in its territorial disputes, have rattled neighboring nations and U.S. allies. Recent tensions with Japan underscore the heightened risks. Last month, Japan scrambled fighter jets after detecting what it described as a Chinese military aircraft breaching its airspace for the first time. Moreover, Japan filed a formal protest last week following a Chinese naval vessel’s incursion into its territorial waters.
With unresolved territorial disputes between Japan and both China and Russia over the Senkaku and Kuril islands, respectively, the geopolitical stakes in the region continue to rise. Relations between Tokyo and Moscow have deteriorated sharply since Japan joined Western sanctions against Russia, adding yet another layer of complexity to the regional dynamic.
As the China-Russia military relationship grows ever closer, these joint drills will likely raise concerns among Western nations and neighboring powers who view the strengthening ties between these two nuclear-armed states with increasing apprehension.
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