After curbing arms transfers and cooling military ties more than a decade ago, China and Russia are increasing joint exercises and stepping up sales of advanced weaponry to counter the US.
The most recent military maneuvers took place in the South China Sea in September. Ten Chinese warships and two submarines joined three Russian vessels in large-scale exercises that included drills in capturing islands.
The maneuvers coincided with an international court ruling that challenged Beijing’s vast maritime claim over 90% of the strategic waterway. It was the first time China has conducted naval exercises in the sea with a foreign military.
The growing ties are outlined in a US congressional report made public March 20 that notes recent sales of advanced Russian air defense missiles and fighter jets to China.
“As Beijing and Moscow increasingly share overlapping interests and maintain a shared resistance to US leadership in the Asia Pacific, the two countries appear likely to further deepen defense relations in the coming years,” the report said.
“In particular, Russian arms sales to China and military-technical cooperation could have significant consequences for the United States, challenging US air superiority and posing problems for US, allied, and partner assets in the region,” it said.
Policy differences and mutual distrust, however, make it unlikely China and Russia could conclude an accord requiring mutual defense against third-party military attack anytime soon, it said.
China has few defense alliances — North Korea is an exception — and primarily seeks regional dominance and influence while trying to drive the US out of Asia. Russia under Vladimir Putin has been seeking a revival of Soviet-style power and influence.
The missile defense cooperation appears aimed at confounding US military planning for the defense of allies in Asia
Two recent arms deals will boost China’s regional military clout, the report said. They include the sale of 24 Russian Su-35 fighters, delivery of which began in December, and upcoming transfers of advanced missile defenses.
Russian and Chinese military exercises are also becoming more complex and involving strategically significant areas.
One example was a major computer-simulated missile defense exercise held in May. The missile defense cooperation appears aimed at confounding US military planning for the defense of allies in Asia. Washington has security commitments with Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and South Korea.
“Beijing and Moscow appear to be seeking to reduce the effectiveness of US-led missile defense systems through advanced missile development and other coordination,” the report said.
The missile defense exercise took place shortly after the US began talks on deploying THAAD — as the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense platform is better known — in South Korea.
Both Beijing and Moscow have vigorously opposed US deployment of missile defenses over concerns the systems could be stitched together and joined to warship-based Aegis missile defenses to nullify their offensive missile capabilities.
The first elements of THAAD batteries began arriving earlier this month, sparking Beijing to issue economic threats against Seoul.
Russia and China both said their missile drills were not directed at any third country. However, Yue Gang, a Chinese military commentator and retired PLA colonel, told state media that THAAD poses “a common threat to both China and Russia.”
“This [bilateral] exercise will serve as a warning to the US and also spark the beginning of the two countries’ military cooperation following their diplomatic consensus [over the missile system],” Yue said.
The five-day missile drill was held in Moscow and its scenario involved defense of territory against what the Russian Defense Ministry called “accidental and provocative ballistic and cruise missile strikes.” It also helped improve the interoperability between Russian and Chinese missile and air defense units.
The drill represented a new level of trust between the two nations’ forces because it involved sharing sensitive information on offensive and defensive missiles and launch warning systems.
“Since the exercise, some Russian and Chinese experts have discussed the possibility of eventually deploying a coordinated missile defense system,” the report said, noting additional missile defense exercises are planned for 2017.
The joint opposition to US missile defenses also comes as Russia finally agreed to sell China advanced S-400 air and missile defense systems, after several years of requests from Beijing. The first deliveries are expected next year.
The S-400s will help the Chinese gain air superiority over the 180-kilometer Taiwan Strait. Under a 1979 law, the US is obligated to defend Taiwan from any Chinese military strike.
The growing China-Russia ties mark a significant warming after Moscow sharply curtailed arms transfers and cooperation around 2005 over Chinese reverse engineering of weapons systems, especially aircraft engines and components.
Since 2012, military cooperation has been increasing, reflecting a resolution of differences between the two states.
“Military-technical cooperation similarly shows significant progress in recent years, highlighted by a major uptick in the technical capability of Russian arms sales to China, wide-ranging strategic industrial partnerships in key defense sectors, and joint production deals and other cooperation on advanced military and dual-use systems,” the congressional report said.
The staff report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission concluded that Beijing and Moscow are growing closer in response to the United States.
“China and Russia appear drawn together by similar concerns about what they consider explicit US-led efforts to contain them, particularly through the Obama administration’s rebalance to Asia policy and Nato expansion,” the report said.
I like the term "US military planning for the defense of allies in Asia" as the author wants to convince the world that US provocations are all about protecting its alliance.
This is a seriously lazy piece, quoting ad nauseum, the Jewish-Zionist dominated US Congress. Tell you what, Bill. It is hightime both China and Russia throw out the Zionist war-mongers from their respective regional sphere of influence. We do not need any kind of Middle Eastern ‘democracy’ invasions, thank you very much.
"niggles"
Here we go again. Those evil Russkies and those diabolical Chinese. Be afraid, be veeeeeery afraid. The Pentagon needs a cash injection. RUSSIA AND CHINA Oh…………..MY ……………………..GOD another trillion is needed or the Continental USA is going to dissappear beneath the waves.
I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MAN LEE COMMENT SON THE LAZINESS OF THIS PIECE OF BIAS REPORTING OF THE SITUATI0N. AS USUAL THE US THINKS IT OWNS THE WORLD . WHEN EVER IT FINDS RESISTANCE OR NON COOPERATION, U CAN EXPECT THAT COUNTRY TO FEAR SOME SORT OF RETRIBUTION COMING FROM THE UNITED STATES . CLINTON CONTIUALLY IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE TPP TO SMALLER COUNTRIES PROMOTING THAT THEY STAND UP FOR ANY INTERNATIONAL BOUNDRY DISPUTES, WITH THE US STANDING AS THIER PARTNER BEHIND THEM TO BE AT THEIR BACKS . CHINA WAS EXCLUDED FROM INVITATION TO EVEN JOIN TPP, WITH THE SILENCE WELL UNDERSTOOD AND TAKEN BY CHINA . THE AUTHOR IS 100% CORRECT , THE AGRESSIVE STATEMENTS BY TH E US THE LAST COUPLE YRS HAS ONLY HELPED THE RUSSIANS AND THE CHINESE . THE US SEEKS TO OFF SET ITS DECLINE BY BLOCKING CHINA. AND DOMINATING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE GLOBE THAT HAVE GEOPOLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN ORDER TO BLOCK ANY OTHER COUNTRYS ACCESS TO THEIR MINERALS AND OIL CAPAPBILITIES .BY DOING THIS ALL OTHER COUNTRIES CAN BE CONTAINED FROM EXCESSIVE GROWTH THAT WOULD ENABLE THAT COUNTRY TO OVER TAKE THE US AS THE GLOBAL LEADER.. IT HIDES ITS TRUE INTENTIONS BY CREATING TRADE DEALS AND ALLY AGREEMENTS , PROMOTING THE SMALLER COUNTRIES STAND UP TO THEIR LARGER NEIGHBORS EXASPERATING TENSIONS AND CREATING A FLASH POINT FOR A CONFLICT TO JUSTIFY ITS OWN NEED TO SUPPRESS THE LARGER POWER EVEN IF IT MEANS A NUCLEAR EXCHANGE WHICH IT IS WELL PREPARED TO DO. AND BLAME THE LARGER COUNTRY AS THE AGRESSOR BY DEFAULT IF NECESSARY. .
"US military planning for the defense of allies in Asia" SOME OF THIS MILITARY BACKING WAS PROMOTED AS A PERK FOR THE SMALLER COUNTRIES TO SEE AS SECURITY AGREEMENT FOR US PROTECTION IF THEY AGREED TO SIGN ON TO OBAMAS TPP, AND THUS EITHER PROTECTTHEM FROM CHINA SHOULD IT BECOME TO AGRESSIVE . AND ALSO GIVE THE US A JUSTIFIABLE GREEN LIGHT FOR WAR IF A CONFRONTATION SHOULD HAPPEN. , ( REAL , IMAGEINED , OR STAGED ) WHICH ANYONE WHO KNOW THE DETAILS OF US HISTORY KNOW IT IS WELL ADAPTED AND HAS A RECORD OF HAVING UTILIZED ALL THREE TO GO TO WAR EVEN IF IT MENT STAGING , LIEING TO IT OWN POPULATION AND THE WORLDS TO SECURE THEIR BACKING THEIR GOVERNMENT MAKING A DECLARATION OF WAR..
Even if the Russians did military exercises with the Chinese, they, the Russians, will never help the Chinese in a war against the Americans. They will pretent they would but will never do it because a defeated China is a blessing to the Russians while a victorious China means a nightmare. I believe such a pretension has been secretly made known to Donald Trump and company though there has not been any public statements about it.
Here we go Trumping with the rest, Russia, China should rather join US and other super powers for peaceful resolutions; not planning war and military threats! The current world must be dealt with high intellect strategies!!!
ВЫ МОЖЕТЕ ГОВОРИТЬ,ЧТО УГОДНО,В ТОТ МОМЕНТ,КОГДА МЫ ИМЕЕМ ВАС ВСЕХ В ЗАД,МЫ ВСЁ ОДНО КОНЧИМ ВАМ В РОТ!
Над варварами америки смеётся весь мир,и ссыт им в рот,когда они пытаются тявкать!
It is common knowledge weapon dealers and nations, in this case Japan benefited greatly in a tense world. As can be seen during cold war. Japan rebounced from defeat in ww2 during the cold war period so much so its economy even surpassed that of America. This is the reason why Japan set up agency to fund local and oversea media outlets, politicians, journalists to create falsehood to prolong the cold war, hoping big powers like US and China go into conflict to benefit those opportunists.
It is not a matter of driving US out of the South China Sea but rather regaining historical control of its own backyard and building ties and integration with its neighbours.
Strain on eyes to read all in caps.
Mr. Gertz, has it ever occurred to you just why the Russians and Chinese are teaming up together militarily? The most dangerous predator in the world, a rapacious beast that is currently dropping bombs on seven different countries, is roaming the South China Sea and looks like it is preparing for an invasion of Russia, right on Russia´s borders. It is also making threats, and waving it´s big stick around. Does that little fact turn on a light in your head? If not it should. if a Motorcycle Gang were to invade my neighbourhood and start threatening the neighbours, the neighbours would band together and prepared for battle against them. In this case the Motorcycle gang is your good friend the USA.
Russia will side with China against the US in the event of war. Because if the US were to win that war Russia well knows that they would be next in line. The US wants the world on it´s knees. The World would much sooner die on it´s feet. So it will band together against the US.
[By Steve Jarvis · Works at Retired — I just edit the annoying All-CAP letters of otherwise fascinating comment, revealing the lies & twists pumped by propagandist authors like Bill Gertz and the true problems.]
I have to agree with Man Lee’s comment on the laziness of this piece of bias reporting of the situation. As usual the US thinks it owns the world. When ever it finds resistance or non cooperation, u can expect that country to fear some sort of retribution coming from the United States. Clinton continually in order to promote the TPP to smaller countries promoting that they stand up for any international boundry disputes, with the US standing as their partner behind them to be at their backs. China was excluded from invitation to even join TPP, with the silence well understood and taken by China. The author is 100% correct, the agressive statements by the US the last couple years have only helped the Russians and the Chinese. The US seeks to offset its decline by blocking China. And dominating certain areas of the globe that have geopolitical significance in order to block any other country’s access to their minerals and oil capabilities. By doing this all other countries can be contained from excessive growth that would enable that country to over take the US as the global leader. It hides its true intentions by creating trade deals and ally agreements, promoting the smaller countries stand up to their larger neighbors exasperating tensions and creating a flash point for a conflict to justify its own need to suppress the larger power even if it means a nuclear exchange which it is well prepared to do. And blame the larger country as the agressor by default if necessary.
Your comment has the very ground, in January news circulated that "Ten thousand pounds per month. That’s the money the Japanese Embassy in London has been paying to a British think tank for its work to hype up China threat and propagate against China-UK relations, said a SUNDAY TIMES report." [2017-02-02]
In this alleged diplomatic scandal, the embassy has hired the Henry Jackson Society (HJS), a right-wing think tank, to encourage high-level British politicians and journalists to "voice opposition to Chinese foreign policy."
A recent example is an article published in August 2016 questioning China’s involvement in Britain’s Hinkley Point C nuclear plant. Former British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind has confirmed that he had been approached by the HJS to put his name to the article.
Fear over China’s rapid development and its sound relations with Britain has been seen as a major motive behind the Japanese Embassy’s indecent campaign against its neighbor.
Just search for more stories about this scandal!
Here’s a related article:
Useful idiots? Japanese embassy pays British think tank to plant anti-China stories
https://www.rt.com/uk/375636-henry-jackson-japan-china/
Thanks Thomas Daniel Kuhn, your few comments here are very clear cut. Every sane reader with rational mind will certainly agree with what you wrote down, except those bigots, fanatics, trolls and other paid out internet armies 🙂
Of course Bill Gertz understands your points but his job dictates him to write quite differently and pumping out the standard lines of the warring think tanks. Btw weapon sales by MIC is a huge money, the paid out for promotors are big too 🙂