China and Russia are stepping up their military collaboration by holding another round of naval exercises, this time in the Sea of Japan, following recent measures adopted by Tokyo that could deepen its military ties with Washington.
On Saturday, the Chinese navy dispatched seven Chinese warships for the Sea of Japan. They will join the Russian Navy’s 16 surface ships, two submarines, 12 naval aircraft, nine amphibious vehicles and 200 marines.
The drills are an extension of Joint Sea-2015 (I), another naval exercise that the two countries had held in May in the Mediterranean Sea, on the doorstep of Europe, and in the backdrop of the crisis in Ukraine. The nine-day manoeuvres under Joint Sea-2015 (II) will simulate anti-submarine combat, evident from the presence of the two Russian submarines, air defence and other related missions.
The presence of the 200 marines, which each side will field, underscores the decision by the two forces to stage a joint beach landing, an intent that has grabbed attention on account of several island disputes in the Pacific.
The Chinese are fielding two destroyers and an equal number of frigates, which will be replenished by the supply ship Taihu .
The contingent, which also includes two landing craft and 21 units of amphibious equipment essential for a beach landing, will arrive at the Russian port of Vladivostok on August 20.
Apart from the Sea of Japan, these drills will also take place in the Peter the Great Gulf and waters off the Clerk Cape.
The Chinese Defence Ministry had earlier stated that the exercise is meant to “bolster the comprehensive strategic cooperation and partnership between Russia and China, and to increase the military capabilities of both countries to counter maritime threats.”
The Joint Sea-2015 (II) is being timed with the growing militarisation of the Pacific under President Barack Obama’s “Pivot to Asia” doctrine, which empowers the U.S. Pacific Command to draw nearly two-thirds of all American forces under its wing.
In tandem, Japan is taking legal measures that could detach Tokyo from its post-war pacifism, and, instead, allow it join forces with the U.S. in operations that do not necessarily pose a direct threat.
The Russians and the Chinese have responded by strengthening their military deterrence, which includes Moscow’s move to alter its naval doctrine, and Beijing’s focus on staging naval manoeuvres in the Pacific, including the troubled South China Sea. Released last month, Russia’s updated doctrine makes its military partnership with China the cornerstone of its naval strategy in the Pacific.
A war of words has also commenced between Moscow and Tokyo regarding the status of Kuril Islands in the Pacific, which Japan claims as its own, fuelling tensions further. On Friday, the Russian foreign ministry rejected Japan’s objections over the visits of Moscow’s officials to the islands.
“Unacceptable comments from Japan on the trips by Russian government officials to the Southern Kuril Islands have come again recently," the ministry said in a comment. "We would like to recall we do not plan taking account of the Japanese government members' opinions as we arrange the itineraries for members of the government.”
Relations between China and Japan also continue to slide, with the speech of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, last Friday, on the 70 anniversary of the end of World War II emerging as the latest point of friction. A commentary on Saturday in the People’s Daily , the government’s official newspaper, accused Mr. Abe of “dodging” his own apology for imperial Japan’s role in World War II. “The lack of sincerity in (Mr.) Abe's statement was a ‘far cry’ from that of his predecessor Tomiichi Murayama two decades ago,” the commentary said.
“Up to this day, Japan has yet to manage a clean break-up with its disgraceful past,” observed the write up.
