China And Russia Kick Off Joint Naval Drill Amid Escalating NATO Tensions

In a recent development, the naval forces of China and Russia have commenced a joint exercise at a military port in southern China. This move follows NATO’s recent characterization of Beijing as a “decisive enabler” of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

What Happened: The Chinese defense ministry has clarified that the operation is not related to any international or regional situations and is not targeted at any third party, AP News reported on Monday. The exercise, which commenced in Guangdong province, is set to continue until mid-July. The objective is to demonstrate the navies’ capabilities to handle security threats and uphold global and regional peace and stability.

State broadcaster CCTV has reported that the drill will encompass anti-missile exercises, sea strikes, and air defense. Xinhua News Agency added that the Chinese and Russian naval forces conducted on-map military simulation and tactical coordination exercises post the opening ceremony in Zhanjiang.

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Why It Matters: This joint exercise comes on the heels of escalating tensions between China and NATO allies. NATO’s final communiqué, approved by its 32 members, underscored China’s role as a significant factor in Russia’s war against Ukraine. In retaliation, China accused NATO of pursuing security at the expense of others and cautioned the alliance against bringing the same “chaos” to Asia.

Moreover, last week, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter detected several Chinese military ships in international waters but within the U.S. exclusive economic zone. The U.S. stated that the Chinese naval vessels operated within international rules and norms.

Earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping, during a meeting with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, urged world powers to facilitate dialogue and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari