The launch of the Vostok 2022 exercises, with the participation of forces from China, India, Syria and several other countries.
Russia launched week-long war games that included troops from China and other countries in a show of growing defense cooperation between Moscow and Beijing.
The Vostok 2022 (East 2022) exercise that began on Thursday came amid Russia’s all-out war in Ukraine that began on February 24 and as both Russia and China face tensions with the United States.
Here are some details of the exercise:
when and where
Vostok 22 exercises take place Thursday through September 7 at seven firing ranges in eastern Siberia, the Far East of Russia and the Sea of Japan, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
Who is involved?
The exercises involve more than 50,000 soldiers and 5,000 weapons units, including 140 aircraft and 60 warships.
The Russian Chief of General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, will personally supervise the exercises, which will involve troops from several former Soviet countries, China, India, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua and Syria.
what is the point?
As part of the exercises, the Russian and Chinese navies in the Sea of Japan will exercise “joint action to protect maritime communications and areas of maritime economic activity and support ground forces in coastal areas,” according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
The exercises demonstrate the growing defense ties between Moscow and Beijing, which have grown stronger since Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his forces into Ukraine on February 24.
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Colonel, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Defense said that China’s participation in the exercises aims to deepen practical and friendly cooperation between the armies of the participating countries, enhance the level of strategic cooperation between all participating parties, and enhance the ability to jointly respond to various security threats. Tan Kefei said last week.
Previous joint exercises
The Vostok exercise is the second joint military exercise conducted by Chinese and Russian forces this year.
Bombers from the two countries conducted a 13-hour drill near Japan and South Korea in May, forcing those nations to scramble with jet fighters, while US President Joe Biden was visiting Tokyo.
Last year, Russia and China held joint military exercises in north-central China, in which more than 10,000 soldiers participated.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu praised the exercises in China’s Ningxia and suggested their further development.
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