Japan has accused Russia of violating its airspace with a patrol plane, leading to Japanese fighter jets firing flares at the Russian aircraft. This incident occurred as part of a joint military exercise between Russia and China in the Sea of Okhotsk, which was announced earlier in the month.
The joint drills between Russia and China have increased in frequency and scale in recent years, with more than 20 held between 2022 and 2024. These exercises have raised concerns among Western countries and allies like Japan, given the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and other regions.
Russia and China have a history of conducting joint military drills, with the first multilateral exercise taking place in 2003 in Kazakhstan. Since then, the two countries have conducted numerous drills in various locations around the world, including the Sea of Okhotsk and the South China Sea.
The rise in joint military exercises between Russia and China is seen as a way to enhance interoperability between their armed forces and project power globally. The recent drills come amidst geopolitical tensions, including the conflict in Ukraine, with Russia warning NATO countries against lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles.
Despite the growing number of joint drills, officials from Russia and China have maintained that these exercises are aimed at strengthening mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries. They have also emphasized that the drills are conducted within the framework of international laws and practices and are not targeted at any third parties.
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