China will send troops to Russia to participate in joint military exercises with the aim of “improving the level of strategic collaboration”, indicated the Ministry of Defense of the Asian country.
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Beijing and Moscow maintain close defense ties, and China has said it wants to take bilateral relations “to a higher level,” including with Russia subject to Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
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China’s Defense Ministry explained on Wednesday that its participation in the annual “Vostok” exercises, which will take place from August 30 to September 5 according to Moscow, is part of the bilateral cooperation agreement between the two powers.
The Chinese ministry assured that India, Belarus, Mongolia and Tajikistan, among others, will also participate in the maneuvers.
“The goal is to deepen practical and friendly cooperation between the armies of participating countries, enhance the level of strategic collaboration between participating parties, and strengthen the ability to respond to various security threats,” he added.
Putin has already carried out joint military exercises with other countries such as Belarus.
Vasily Fedosenko / Reuters
China and India have been accused of providing diplomatic cover for
Russia during the months of war in Ukraine, opposing Western sanctions and arms supplies to kyiv.
But Beijing said its participation in the joint exercises was “unrelated to the current international and regional situation.” will be the second joint exercises between China and Russia this year.
Bombers from both powers deployed 13 hours of exercises near Japan and South Korea in May, forcing the mobilization of fighters from both countries just as US President Joe Biden was visiting Tokyo.
The spokesman for US diplomacy, Ned Price, indicated that the ever closer ties between Russia and China undermined global securityWashington did not take any reading of the maneuvers.
“Most of the countries involved also routinely participate in a wide range of military exercises and exchanges with the United States as well,” he told a news conference.
AFP
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