China Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui in an exclusive interview with Global Times said that the growing military relationship between Russia and China isn’t targeted at any other countries, as their alliances are solely based on the promotion of the interest of both Beijing and Moscow.
Following recent accusations by some media on the growing military relationship between both countries, which they claimed is aimed at supporting each other in invading smaller countries after both countries have failed to condemn attacks in Ukraine by Russia, and military drills in Taiwan by China.
Debunking the allegations, Ambassador Zhang reiterated that, China-Russia military and security cooperation serves each other’s interests, does not target any third party, and is conducive to regional peace, stability, and development.
He further affirmed that the military cooperation will not be affected by the external environment, saying that Beijing places much value on the Russia-China military cooperation and will work together with Russia to promote bilateral military and security cooperation to a higher level and to cover broader areas. Zhang told the Global Times.
Russia is set to launch another military exercise/drill tagged Vostok 2022, which will be attended by countries mostly from East had in attendance China, India, Armenia, Syria, Belarus, and other countries that will participate in the exercises.
The military drills will bring in together over 50,000 troops, 5,000 plus items of armaments and military hardware, 140 aircraft, 60 combat ships, gunboats, and support vessels from different states at the competition.
According to footage unveiled by the Russian Ministry of Defence, troops and equipment of foreign countries participating in the Vostok 2022 arrived already for the strategic exercise, with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) represented by three of its forces to participate in the drills.
The drill aims to promote military alliances and technological warfare among participating countries, but which have been overturned by some media, saying that military alliances between Russia and China have been growing tremendously since Russia invaded Ukraine.
With other countries participating, it has debunked the notion of some media articulating the drills as part of measures to be taken on the Sea of Japan as an alarm to Taiwan.
The extent of the Vostok military drills compared to the one operated by the US and her allies are minimal, and the drills aren’t done in tandem to provoke the security of any country.
The Vostok 2022 drills will commence on September 1, and end on the 7th, under the command of Chief of Russia’s General Staff Valery Gerasimov. It will also signal the final stage of any Russian military training this year.