Russian media: The Sino-Russian joint maritime exercise sends a signal to the West

Source: Global Times

Russian Television Today reported on October 15 that the original title: Continue to coordinate actions: Russia and China hold joint maritime exercises The opening ceremony of the Russian-Chinese "Maritime Joint-2021" military exercise was held in the waters near Peter the Great Bay in Russia on the afternoon of the 14th. The two sides will mainly focus on the communications exercise, the passage of formations through mine threat areas (pictured), the elimination of floating mines, formation air defense, sea shooting, joint maneuvers, and joint anti-submarine warfare. Russian experts believe that the joint exercise demonstrates the development of close military cooperation between Russia and China against the background of the West's unfriendly actions and offensive remarks.

The Russian forces participating in the exercise include the large anti-submarine ship "Admiral Pandeleev", the type 20380 "Hero of the Russian Federation Ardar Zidenzapov" and the "Loud" frigate, 2 minesweepers, the Type 877 "Usty-Bolisheretsk" submarine, as well as 1 missile boat and 1 rescue tugboat. The Chinese side's troops participating in the exercise came from the eastern, southern, and northern theater navies, including new guided-missile destroyers and frigates such as the Nanchang, Kunming, Binzhou, and Liuzhou, the "DongpingHu" comprehensive supply ship, fixed-wing anti-submarine patrol aircraft, and carrier-based helicopters.

The Russian-Chinese navies have held several joint maritime exercises since 2012. The Russian Defense Ministry said the exercises are aimed at strengthening the two countries' combat capabilities to jointly deal with maritime threats. Viktor Murakhovsky, editor-in-chief of Russia's State Arsenal magazine, said: "This is not the first time that the two countries have held joint exercises. However, this time it involves the use of multi-purpose naval formations, which can strike ground targets and surface ships, and can also carry out anti-submarine operations, find mines, clear mines, and organize ship-based air defense forces to conduct air defense. He said that the operational coordination of the two armies is an important direction. This is a difficult and complex task. It is very important for the Russian-Chinese Navy to systematically improve coordination in this field.

Kinita Danuk, deputy director of the Institute of Strategic Research and Forecasting at the Russian People's Friendship University, said that the military exercise not only helps Russia and China to take synchronous actions at sea, but also sends a signal to the West, "The Asia-Pacific region is increasingly becoming the center of political and geopolitical confrontation, and Russia and China remain highly vigilant about it... Against the backdrop of extremely offensive remarks and unfriendly actions by the West against Russia and China, holding this exercise is the right step."

Konstantin Blokhin, an expert at the Center for Security Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said that in the context of the establishment of the "Okus" between the United States, Britain and Australia aimed at containing China, "this exercise shows that the partnership between the two countries is not reflected in words, but in actual action." Blokhin said that the various hostile actions taken by the West against Russia and China will strengthen the efforts of the two countries to ensure security in the Asia-Pacific region, "The actions of Western countries, especially the United States, Britain and Australia, are promoting the process of strengthening Russian-Chinese cooperation, including in the military field." Under the current international situation, Russia and China have no choice." (Translated by Irina Taran, liu yupeng)