by Chris Black
The significance of this joint military exercise is huge.
If things ever got real serious in the Ukraine, China would commit troops.
Just so, if the US ever triggered Taiwan to start a war with China, Russia would be backing them up in the sea.
Neither has any choice in the matter.
PLAAF fighter jets and Y-20 military transport aircraft with equipment and personnel have departed for Vladivostok to participate in the upcoming joint "Northern Union – 2023" military exercises with Russia in the Sea of Japan. #Russia #China pic.twitter.com/WLOfuJ0IhY
— Venik (@venik44) July 16, 2023
A Chinese naval flotilla set off on Sunday to join Russian naval and air forces in the Sea of Japan in an exercise aimed at “safeguarding the security of strategic waterways”, according to China’s defence ministry.
Codenamed “Northern/Interaction-2023”, the drill marks enhanced military cooperation between China and Russia since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and is taking place as Beijing continues to rebuff U.S. calls to resume military communication.