In recent years, Sino-Russian relations have strengthened significantly. Military cooperation through joint exercises and Xi is an important driving force for strengthening bilateral relations between China and Russia. Unlike Russia's many years of high and low importance to China's military sales, Sino-Russian joint military exercises remain a strong area of military cooperation. Between 2003 and 2021, the two countries participated in more than 60 military exercises Xi Xi, even after Russia's invasion of Ukraine: in just three months, the two countries participated in joint air patrols in the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea and the western Pacific. There are several different factors for China's participation in the joint Xi with Russia. First, Chinese strategists believe that joint exercises Xi a unique means for China to gain experience in overseas operations. In the early days of Sino-Russian joint Xi exercises, China focused on learning from the more experienced Russian military, Xi, but it is increasingly inclined to gain experience as an equal or even more senior partner.
Second, authoritative Chinese writings suggest that while claiming that the Xi is not directed at a "third party," it considers joint Xi exercises with Russia to be an important tool for deterring the United States as a means of collectively shaping the security dynamics in the region, especially through the Xi of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization with China. Chinese experts are particularly looking for opportunities to use multilateral SCO Xi with Russia to improve China's image among regional countries and assure neighbors of their readiness to play a supportive role in this regard.
1. Gain Russian military experience
For China, which has not had a large-scale military conflict for more than four decades, the military Xi with Russia is a unique opportunity to gain military experience. Military Strategy publishes an authoritative textbook detailing China's broader military modernization efforts to benefit from joint Xi. It pointed out that through joint exercises Xi our military "can not only understand the geographical conditions or sea conditions of overseas missions, but also accumulate experience in military training, cultivate a sense of joint operations, and enhance the organizational and command capabilities of command organs." Xi joint exercises with Russia have enabled our army to gain experience in regional operations. Far beyond the borders. In 2015, the two countries participated in a joint naval Xi in the South China Sea. Emphasis is placed on navigational safety, replenishment at sea, escort missions and live-fire Xi. China and Russia have previously conducted naval exercises in Pacific waters, Xi ventured as far as the Mediterranean Xi and have provided our militaries with the opportunity to gain combat experience in an increasingly diverse range of military domains.
field。The first few exercises between China and Russia Xi mainly land-based Xi, with a focus on counter-terrorism operations. In recent years, however, China and Russia have dramatically expanded the aperture of their Xi. In 2012, the two countries held their first joint naval Xi. After that, it was done several times. In October 2021, China and Russia conducted their first joint maritime patrol, which naval researchers described as China and Russia also expanded cooperation to conduct joint air patrols in the western Pacific. The first was in 2019, with three more patrols in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Chinese experts do not see the joint Xi as a face-saving project, describing the Xi as of substantial value. China's Tanks and Armored Vehicles published a publication describing the joint Xi exercise with Russia as "very practical" and featuring "joint planning and joint military Xi". operational coordination, long-range delivery capabilities, and military firepower strikes, as well as integrated joint command systems and joint logistics support capabilities. Chinese experts have also frequently stressed that they can Xi learn from the Russian military's decades-long experience in competing with the United States and its allies.
However, this dynamic is evolving as capabilities grow, and China expands its leadership in the military sphere. Russia's comprehensive national strength. Rather than focusing on how China can learn from Russia's Xi, Chinese commentators now often emphasize that both sides can benefit from military Xi. Russia has learned Xi from cooperation with China's more modern military. For example, a 2016 review noted that the Russian naval fleet is mainly made up of outdated Soviet-era ships and equipment, although most of the Chinese ships were built in the 21st century. Another Chinese expert believes that the Russian battalion tactical group "is only suitable for that kind of battlefield, because Ukraine does not emphasize sports warfare, and it is easy to defeat the battlefield of advanced opponents such as the US ** team in terms of high intensity." The synthetic battalion has significantly surpassed the Russians in terms of performance in terms of ** equipment, "but it admits that the Russian BTG has a tried-and-tested advantage in real combat, and the squadron ** does not do this."
More significantly, China has begun to reverse the status quo and play a dominant role in the Xi, with Russia less involved. The "Interactive-2021" Xi (also known as "Western Union 2021" in China) is the first major example of this. **Describing this as the first time that the Russian army has participated in a Xi held entirely in China, the researcher said that the Russian army uses China**. Experts on military issues from the Academy of Military Sciences and Russia, highlighted the unique interaction – 2021, describing it as a "role shift" and an opportunity to create joint Xi. The "brand" is mainly focused on the Chinese military.
2. Deterrent the United States and its allies
Another new trend in Sino-Russian joint Xi is that more and more people are willing to use the Xi to signal to third parties in a more provocative way. ** Repeatedly claimed that the joint military exercises with Russia were for bilateral purposes and not for third parties. On the eve of the first bilateral Xi exercise between China and Russia "Peace Mission 2005", military cooperation (including joint Xi) is not aimed at any third party, but is conducive to regional and world peace. A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense stressed that the patrol "is not aimed at any third party and is compatible with the current international and regional situation." However, pundits point out that the opposite is true. China's military strategy includes a chapter on strategic deterrence, with an entire section on the role of military Xi. The 2020 edition of the textbook states that military Xi for specific threats is not only an effective military training method, but also an important way to implement strategic deterrence. This training Xi not only demonstrates the combat capabilities of the military to adversaries, but also raises questions, makes them unsure of our intentions, and makes it difficult to determine whether we are conducting routine training, maintaining close diplomatic relations, or taking the opportunity to enter into real combat operations, thereby creating psychological panic and acting as a deterrent. The large-scale military exercises with Russia demonstrated the "determination and will" of the two countries and played a positive role. Particular emphasis was placed on the "strategic significance" of the Xi. It is by no means new to warn that the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and France are using joint Xi exercises as a tool to signal deterrence to third parties. What is new is the willingness of Beijing and Moscow to send signals in a bolder and more direct way. In the negotiations for the first bilateral Xi (peace mission) between China and Russia, China sought to hold a Xi exercise in Fujian, which is the closest Chinese mainland has to Taiwan. Russia has fought back for fear of escalation and being drawn into a conflict in the Taiwan Strait. In the end, the two sides chose to hold military exercises in Shandong, north of Taiwan. The use of joint Xi as a deterrent signal to third parties is by no means a new phenomenon. What's new is a bolder and more direct way, and Russia is willing to send a signal through Xi.
Amid growing tensions with the United States and its allies, China and Russia have shown a willingness to conduct joint Xi in a more targeted manner in response to specific geopolitical developments. Just two months after the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China's claims to most of the South China Sea were invalid, China and Russia launched a joint naval exercise in 2016 Xi which remains Xi Xi only naval exercise between the two countries in the South China Sea. Most recently, in May 2022, China and Russia conducted joint air patrols over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, coinciding with the Quadrilateral Strategic Dialogue summit in Tokyo. The timing of air defense identification patrols, including four Chinese H-6 bombers, two Russian Tu-95 bombers and one Russian Il-20 electronic intelligence aircraft — was timed for air defense identification patrols, and the previous three air patrols were all conducted in the second half of the year, suggesting that the exercise was Xi for the Quad summit. The patrol was also the first joint Xi since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, so it was widely seen as a symbol of continued alliance with Russia.
3. Maintain regional stability and security
China's third major driver is its desire to use joint exercises with Russia Xi shape security dynamics within and around China. This includes deterrence that is perceived as a threat of terrorism or doctrine and assuring neighboring countries of the intentions and capabilities of China and Russia. In addition to deterring the United States and its allies, both China and Russia seek to use joint Xi to deter internal and external threats from terrorism and doctrine. China and Russia share a similar threat assessment that the goal of the United States and its allies is to encircle and isolate China and Russia, and to undermine an important part of the SCO's efforts to address these obvious threats by provoking "color revolutions." China's Military Strategic Science** counterterrorism will continue to grow in importance for China, noting that strengthening SCO-related counter-terrorism Xi will be a key factor in countering threats. From a domestic perspective, bilateral and multilateral Xi with Russia has played a role in shaping perceptions within the region.
First, they are designed to help convince neighboring countries that both China and Russia have the ability and willingness to respond to threats to the region's security and stability. The joint Xi also aims to assuage neighboring countries' perception that China respects them and their interests, as it has increased. Therefore, China believes that joint exercises Xi not only a practical means to improve operational capabilities, but also an important tool for neighboring diplomacy.
4. Support broader China-Russia relations
As one Chinese review put it, the joint Xi exercise was "the most sensitive event that the two countries can participate in." Therefore, joint exercises Xi naturally play an important role in building trust between the Sino-Russian strategic community and strengthening broader Sino-Russian bilateral relations. Despite repeated stresses that China and Russia have a strong relationship, there is still considerable mistrust between them. In particular, Russia has expressed concern about China's copying of Russian military-technical intellectual property and fears that China may eventually use its intellectual property to overcome some mistrust by facilitating exchanges between the Chinese and Russian military and strategic communities at multiple levels. The recent joint exercise Xi witnessed the two teams not only conducting the exercise Xi together, but also actively cooperating in planning and directing the Xi. The Xi also provided an opportunity for both countries.
In 2018, he held talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Beijing. In a statement after the meeting, he said, "The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has reached an all-time high. Xi The exercise also allows China and Russia to increase trust and transparency by showing each other their military equipment and the strengths and weaknesses of their forces. Several important Chinese platforms participated in -2021, including KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, J-20 and J-16 fighters, Y-20 transport aircraft, as well as reconnaissance aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft of China's most advanced systems. Russia's deliberate use of certain equipment, such as the advanced S-400 surface-to-air missile system, in the exercise Xi has taken this point even further. Unlike NATO countries, which usually use a common language (English) for Xi, China and Russia communicate in their own languages. Our military insists that this is not a problem and that "during the interaction-2021 exercise Xi the two countries used a bilingual command information system to ensure that both sides can fully understand the orders.
5. Impacts and potential new trends
Joint military exercises Xi remain an important and enduring component of Sino-Russian relations. Chinese and Russian analysts should continue to pay attention to new trends in the Sino-Russian Xi. This is especially important in light of Russia's war in Ukraine, the repercussions of which are still spreading around the world. So far, there is no evidence of any concrete impact of this war. However, the war could have an impact on the long-term joint exercises between China and Russia Xi China. The Russian army has performed so badly in Ukraine – even after revising its initially disastrous approach to focus on more limited targets – that the war has proven costly and deadly for Russia. If China believes that Russia's performance in Ukraine is bad enough, the situation could be exacerbated by the fact that the overstressed Russian military lacks the ability to conduct large-scale Xi exercises of any frequency.
In one case, this could lead China and Russia to shift to narrower, smaller Xi Xi that focus less on operational interests and more on a signal, such as the nearest air patrol. In another case, both parties can proceed. Finally, it is worth noting that China and Russia may face an increasingly competitive environment for military Xi in the Asia-Pacific region as European countries strengthen their military and security presence in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2021, the UK sent an aircraft carrier strike group to the region for the first time since 1997. The UK's Royal Navy Craft Involved in the Deployment to the Region: When NATO foreign ministers met in April 2022 to discuss the war in Ukraine, they also called for countering Russia's frictions in the Asia-Pacific region by working with countries in the region on issues such as cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and maritime security.