Joint Drills in Pacific Highlight China–Russia Threat to U.S.

(The Post News)- China and Russia have begun joint naval exercises in the Sea of Japan, aiming to deepen their military ties and counterbalance growing U.S. influence in the region.

On Sunday, China’s Minister of National Defense, Don Jun, confirmed that the Joint Sea 2025 naval drills started near the Russian port city of Vladivostok and will continue for three days.

According to official sources, the exercises include submarine rescue operations, anti-submarine warfare, air and missile defense drills, and maritime combat simulations. China has deployed four naval vessels, including its guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, to join Russia’s Pacific Fleet in the training.

Following the drills, both nations plan to conduct joint naval patrols in parts of the Pacific Ocean, signaling a sustained military partnership.

However, the move has sparked concern from neighboring countries. Japan’s Minister of Defense, Gen Nakatani, voiced security worries over China’s growing military cooperation with Russia, warning that such actions could destabilize regional peace.

In response, Russia’s Pacific Fleet stated that the operation is purely defensive in nature and is not intended to threaten or provoke any other nation.

These developments highlight an ongoing strategic alignment between Moscow and Beijing, especially amid rising tensions with Western powers and expanding military influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government is also intensifying efforts to curb China’s economic rise. Washington has imposed new tariffs and trade restrictions, aiming to protect domestic industries and strengthen the American dollar against global competition.

As of now, NATO, which stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, has not issued a formal condemnation of the operation. However, the alliance continues to monitor China and Russia’s military cooperation closely, viewing it as part of a broader challenge to global stability and Western security interests.

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