Russia and China have recently embarked on a joint naval exercise, taking place in the East China Sea, marking a significant move in their military cooperation. This initiative aims to strengthen naval ties between the two nations and ensure peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region. The exercises focus primarily on firing practice and anti-submarine drills.
Key Features of the Joint Naval Exercise
At the core of this cooperative venture are firing exercises and anti-submarine drills, which are tools meant for ensuring maritime security. These drills demonstrate not only the capability of both parties to respond to maritime threats but also their determination to do so. It is viewed as a means to solidify even further the strategic partnership between Russia and China within a new-era context.
This naval collaboration is not an isolated event; rather, it is part of a series of military drills that the two countries have conducted jointly within the past year. For instance, nuclear-capable bombers were flown by Russia and China in May 2022. This was closely followed by a substantial joint exercise in September 2022. This specific drill involved over 2,000 Chinese troops, several combat aircraft, hundreds of military vehicles, and a considerable number of warships.
India’s Joint Military Drills with Russia and China
India, too, has partnered with both Russia and China in separate military exercises. With China, India conducts “Exercise Hand-in-Hand,” which is aimed at practicing joint planning and conducting counter-terrorist operations in semi-urban terrains.
In terms of its military cooperation with Russia, India participates in “Exercise Indra.” This exercise is intended for conducting counter-terror operations under the United Nations’ mandate. This particular military initiative targets international terror groups. The first iteration of the INDRA series, which began in 2003, was carried out as a bilateral naval drill that alternated annually between the two countries. However, in 2017, the first joint Tri-Services Exercise was set into motion.
India’s participation in “Exercise TSENTR” incidentally forms part of the Russian Armed Forces’ annual training cycle. This particular exercise is one of a series of large-scale drills, which are rotated through the four main Russian operational strategic commands, namely Vostok (East), Zapad (West), TSENTR (Centre), and Kavkas (South).
The ongoing joint military exercises between Russia and China, and their respective separate collaborations with India, underscore the evolving dynamics of military cooperation among these nations. The focus remains on maintaining global peace and combating international terrorist threats, indicating a shared commitment to these objectives.
