China, Russia hold major joint military exercise
TASS, a Russian state news agency, reported that the Russian Pacific Fleet is preparing to host Maritime Interaction 2025, a series of joint naval drills between Russia and China, from August 1 to August 5.
'The Pacific Fleet will host the Russia-China joint naval drills dubbed Maritime Interaction 2025 on August 1-5, 2025,' the Russian Pacific Fleet said in a statement obtained by TASS. 'The standard exercise will be held in the Sea of Japan, with the purpose being to allow the personnel of the Russian Navy and the Navy of the People's Liberation Army of China to share expertise. Defensive in nature, the drills are not directed against third countries.'
According to the Russian state news agency, the joint naval drills between Russia and China are expected to feature activities both on land and at sea. The outlet noted that the Russian city of Vladivostok will be used as a command headquarters for the joint military training.
READ MORE: Russian military aircraft tracked near Alaska
TASS reported that the Russian Pacific Fleet confirmed that the joint naval drills between the two nations will include air defense training, submarine combat training, search and rescue operation training, and joint gun exercises.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, noted that both China and Russia will deploy contingents from the military forces participating in the joint training to the 'relevant waters of the Pacific Ocean' following Maritime Interaction 2025 for the sixth joint maritime patrol.
'This is an arrangement within the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries,' the Chinese spokesperson said. 'It is not targeted at any third party, nor is it related to the current international and regional situation.'
According to Newsweek, while Russia and China do not currently have a formal treaty or alliance, analysts have suggested that the two countries are both seeking to challenge the dominance of the U.S. military.
Last month, Garrett Campbell, a retired U.S. Navy captain and an adviser to NATO, warned, 'It has become resoundingly clear that the increase in bilateral military activities is directly linked to a shared strategic vision held by both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin.'
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