China and Russia have launched joint naval exercises off the coast of China. With the exercises – which will last until next Tuesday – the countries want to further strengthen their military ties. “It’s a clear signal to the rest of the world,” says defense specialist Peter Wijninga of the Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague.
According to Wijninga, China and Russia want to show that they are literally sailing together. ‘They’re growing towards each other militarily, but also politically, of course. And that has everything to do with the war in Ukraine,’ says Wijninga. Russia is isolated from the Western world, but still finds support in China. China, in turn, may need support when it comes to Taiwan. The fact that they are working together is a clear signal to the rest of the world that we seek each other out and support each other by working together.’
But according to Wijninga, it is better not to get out of hand in Ukraine for China. China is interested in this. It would reflect on the Chinese themselves. They then also warned Russia not to work with nuclear weapons in Ukraine. On the other hand, they cooperate with the Russians, in whom they also have an interest. In return, the Russians can (politically) support any action in Taiwan.”
Japan
The fact that the exercises are taking place in the East China Sea, exactly between Japan and Taiwan, is also a “very clear signal”, according to Wijninga. “The Chinese accuse the Japanese of investing in offensive systems. China still sees Japan as a threat. This may be historically understandable, but Japan’s military might won’t really pose a threat to China. The fact that the Japanese are investing in offensive weapon systems for the first time is a major turnaround, which has everything to do with the threat Japan is facing from China and North Korea.’
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
