Russia and China will soon conduct joint naval patrols in the Asia-Pacific, a move seen as a challenge to the current Western-led world order.
Russian news agency Interfax on Wednesday said that the Russian Navy and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy “will form a new task group to carry out joint patrol missions in the Asia-Pacific region”.
The announcement came after the conclusion of the five-day joint drills on Aug 5 by the two navies in the Sea of Japan. Dubbed the “Maritime Interaction 2025”, the drills included artillery firing, practising anti-submarine and air defence missions, and improving joint search and rescue operations at sea.
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Russia’s Pacific Fleet insists that the drills were defensive in nature and not directed against any other countries. Whereas the Chinese defence ministry termed the exercises as the one that "further deepens the comprehensive strategic partnership" of the two countries.
The reported formation of the Asia-Pacific joint patrol comes as China modernises and upgrades its naval fleet. China is aiming to become a “blue water” force, capable of carrying out long-range operations in the world’s oceans, just like the US and other Western forces.
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Russia and China in 2022 signed a “no-limits” strategic partnership shortly before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Under the deal, the two powerhouses will conduct regular exercises to rehearse coordination between their armed forces and send a deterrent signal to adversaries.
