China's Defense Ministry comments on joint military exercises with Russia
China's Defense Ministry said the drills with the Russian military demonstrated its determination to jointly respond to threats.
According to TASS on July 12, official spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense Zhang Xiaogang said that the joint exercise between the Russian and Chinese armies called Maritime Cooperation 2024 demonstrates the determination to cooperate together to respond to security threats.
“The ongoing exercise, expected to last until mid-July, aims to demonstrate the determination and capability of the two militaries in jointly responding to maritime security threats and maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world,” Mr. Hieu Cuong said.
The joint exercise will deepen the China-Russia strategic partnership, according to a Chinese defense official.
The drills began in the first half of July in the waters and airspace near the southern Chinese city of Zhanjiang. The joint Russian-Chinese naval group is scheduled to conduct anti-submarine and air defense drills, as well as practice search and rescue measures at sea during the joint patrol.
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on July 11 accused China of trying to move closer to the alliance's borders, after the country conducted joint military exercises with Belarus. According to Mr. Stoltenberg, the exercises between Belarus and China show that China is getting closer than ever to NATO in Europe, as well as in Africa, the Arctic and elsewhere.
