Naval ships from Russia and the People’s Republic of China have conducted joint patrols in the Pacific Ocean, the Russian defense ministry reported. Personnel from both sides are conducting joint tactical maneuvers and conducting exercises involving artillery and helicopters, a ministry statement to the media revealed.

“The tasks of the patrols involve the strengthening of naval cooperation between Russia and China, upholding peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, coastal monitoring and safeguarding Russian and Chinese nautical economic sites,” the ministry observed.

Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping will soon meet with Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin in Uzbekistan to discuss Ukraine and Taiwan, among other things, in the first foreign trip by a Chinese president in more than two years. The deepening “no limits” partnership between rising superpower China and natural resources titan Russia is a geopolitical development the West is watching with apprehension.

Russian and Chinese warships conducted their first joint patrol in the western Pacific Ocean in October last year, a move closely watched by Japan, which called it “unusual”.

It is worth nothing that Nachang, Yancheng and Dongping, places in China, have all cooperated with the Russian Navy in the Past. In 2014, Yancheng and Russian ships participated in the joint escort of a Syrian chemical weapons shipment, and Nanchang and Dongping participated in the China-Russia joint maritime military exercise in 2021.

In the current situation, it is crucial that China and Russia strengthen comprehensive cooperation, especially in the military field, which helps maintain regional peace and stability, but military cooperation does not target third parties, Chinese military expert Mr. Song Zhongping said.

WORLD ROUNDUP: Mr. Putin and Mr. Xi to have path-breaking dialogue at Uzbekistan