China-Russia Pacific military exercises • TNTV Tahiti Nui Television

For more than a decade, the two countries have enjoyed very close relations, and this friendship has been particularly strengthened by their common desire to balance US hegemony in international affairs.

Since Russia launched its offensive against Ukraine in February 2022, Beijing has further strengthened its diplomatic, economic and military ties with Moscow.

“The Chinese and Russian naval fleets recently conducted the fourth joint maritime patrol in the Western Pacific and North Pacific waters”China’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

“This action is not directed against any third party and has nothing to do with the current international and regional situation.”He stressed that this was related to the conflict in Ukraine or tensions in the South China Sea involving Beijing and its neighbors.

No details were provided on the content of the exercises, the routes of the ships, their exact locations or the nature of the participating forces.

In addition, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday that two Russian warships arrived at the Chinese port of Zhanjiang (South) to participate in joint maritime exercises.

China’s Pacific coastal waters have become a hotbed of international tension due to sovereignty disputes between Beijing and several of its U.S.-backed neighbors, including Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan.

Researchers at the European Union Institute for Security Studies (IESUE) estimated in a report published at the beginning of July that Russia and China have increased the number of joint exercises in recent years, although their level of interoperability remains well below that of NATO.

In 2023, during a “Maritime Interaction” exercise, ships from both countries sailed off the coast of Alaska, close to the U.S. coast.

China on Thursday urged NATO to stop “fomenting confrontation” after launching a virulent critique of the Atlantic alliance and accusing Beijing of providing crucial assistance to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Asian giant has never condemned the invasion, which took place in February 2022, but has frequently called for respect for the territorial integrity of all countries, implicitly reflecting Ukraine’s concerns.