Reuters – Oct 23, 2021
Russian and Chinese warships held their first joint patrols in the western Pacific Ocean over the past week, Russia’s defence ministry said on Saturday, a move Japan said it was monitoring.
Moscow and Beijing, which staged naval cooperation drills in the Sea of Japan earlier in October, have cultivated closer military and diplomatic ties in recent years at a time when their relations with the West have soured.
The naval manoeuvres, which Russia said ran from Sunday through Saturday, have been closely watched by Japan, which said earlier in the week that a group of 10 vessels from China and Russia sailed through the Tsugaru Strait separating Japan’s main island and its northern island of Hokkaido.
“The group of ships passed through the Tsugaru Strait for the first time as part of the patrol,” Russia’s defence ministry said in a statement. The strait is regarded as international waters.
“The tasks of the patrols were the demonstration of the Russian and Chinese state flags, maintaining of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and guardianship of the subjects of maritime economic activities of the two countries,” the ministry added.
China’s defence ministry said on Sunday the joint exercise aimed to “further develop the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era, enhance the joint action capabilities of both parties and jointly maintain international and regional strategic stability”.
A report on the ministry website said the operation was part of annual cooperation between the two nations and not targeted at third parties.
Japanese defence officials said on Sunday the Russian and Chinese vessels had also passed through the Osumi Strait off the southern Japanese prefecture Kagoshima, public broadcaster NHK reported.
Foreign ships are allowed to navigate through the Osumi and Tsugaru straits as they are international waterways, but Japan’s defence ministry said it will monitor the two navies, characterising the recent moves as “unusual”, NHK reported.
Japanese officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
It’s ok, the british navy will save you. They have that (one) aircraft carrier and… er… the queen… she’ll save you… oh, and the lords…
Perhaps it’s to show America its provocations over Taiwan can be applied to Hawaii, especially as Hawaii is an American colony, whereas Taiwan wants independence from China though it’s always been Chinese territory but never a Chinese colony. Like the Cornwall Nationalist Movement wanting independence from Britain.
Taiwan is where China’s elite fled to when they escaped Mao’s purges, and if the west starts war there it’ll not be to serve China’s former elite but most likely because their Covid genocide has failed and they sense the noose tightening. WW3 may be a last ditch attempt to avoid being called to account.
@startawar. Nice sarcasm LOL. And I always thought it was “God save the queen”. Of course she will need Joe Biden to assist with saving us.
CHINA RULES THE WAVES !
has to be time now to teach white
man a lesson !
@Startawar
@Lerch
Nice comments.