Along with countries like India and Belarus, China announces its participation in joint military exercises in Russia. That has “nothing to do with the current situation,” it says. Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Beijing and Moscow had promised each other a "borderless" partnership.
Chinese troops will take part in joint military exercises in Russia at the end of August. This was announced by the Chinese Defense Ministry. India, Belarus, Mongolia, Tajikistan and other countries are also said to be involved in the maneuver.
China's participation in the joint exercises has "nothing to do with the current international and regional situation," the ministry said in a statement, alluding to the Russian attack on Ukraine and Western sanctions against Russia. The Russian government had announced the "Vostok" maneuver from August 30 to September 5 in July. China's Defense Ministry said the participation is part of an ongoing bilateral annual cooperation agreement with Russia.
Under Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Beijing and Moscow had come ever closer. In August 2021, Russia and China held joint military exercises in north-central China, attended by more than 10,000 troops.
Then in October, Russia and China held joint naval maneuvers in the Sea of Japan. A few days later, Russian and Chinese warships conducted their first joint patrols in the western Pacific. Shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Beijing and Moscow announced a "borderless" partnership.
