China and Russia Conduct Joint Military Drill Near Sea of Japan

China and Russia conducted joint military drills in the waters and airspace of the Sea of Japan from September 11 to 15, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported on Sunday.

It said the drills, which have been named Northern/Interaction-2024, aim to deepen strategic cooperation between the two sides and strengthen their ability to respond to security threats.

Drills will continue in the Sea of Okhotsk later this month.

According to a statement by China’s Ministry of Defense, the Chinese navy will also participate in Russia's "Ocean-2024" strategic exercise.

Russia's exercise spans the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, the Mediterranean, Caspian and Baltic Seas and involves over 400 warships, submarines and support vessels, more than 120 planes and helicopters and over 90,000 troops.

According to CCTV, the Chinese fleet is composed of troops drawn from the Navy of the Northern Theater Command, including the guided-missile destroyers Xining and Wuxi, the guided-missile frigate Linyi, the comprehensive replenishment ship Taihu and three shipborne helicopters.

Through joint exercises, Russia has sought Chinese help in achieving its long-cherished aim of becoming a Pacific power, while Moscow has backed China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea and elsewhere.