In a display of growing military might and a challenge to the US-led world order, Russia and China began joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan on Tuesday. This exercise, dubbed ‘Ocean-2024’, marks the largest of its kind in three decades, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The drills, which will extend until September 16, involve over 400 warships, submarines, and support vessels, along with more than 120 aircraft and helicopters, and over 90,000 personnel. China contributed four warships and a supply vessel to the exercise, joining Russia’s naval fleet in the Sea of Japan.
The timing of these drills is significant. Both Moscow and Beijing have been strengthening their military and economic ties in recent years, expressing growing discontent with what they perceive as US dominance in global affairs. Putin, in a televised address, highlighted the US’s increased military presence near Russia’s borders and in the Asia-Pacific region, which he described as a “pretext of countering the alleged Russian threat.”
Meanwhile, China’s growing economic and military clout, and its assertive stance in territorial disputes, particularly with the Philippines, have raised concerns in Washington and its allies.
The drills have not gone unnoticed in Japan. The Japanese Defense Ministry confirmed observing five Chinese naval ships entering the Sea of Japan over the weekend, heading towards Russia. The Japanese Self-Defense Forces monitored the ships with a vessel and patrol plane.
Japan, along with Russia, has a territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands (known as the Northern Territories in Japan). The conflict in Ukraine has further strained relations between Japan and Russia.
Additionally, Japan and China have their own tense history, marked by territorial disputes over the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands in China). In recent months, there have been numerous reports of Chinese coastguard vessels, naval ships, and even a nuclear-powered submarine entering the area, prompting confrontations with Japanese coastguard vessels and Chinese fishing boats.
As these joint drills unfold, the world watches closely, recognizing the potential impact on regional security dynamics. The exercise serves as a stark reminder of the evolving power dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region and the growing challenges to the existing global order.
