A journalist from the British Daily Express has seen a demonstration of close military cooperation between Russia and China and Moscow’s reaction to the West’s support for Ukraine and Taiwan in the upcoming Vostok-2022 exercises. The US and Japan are also worried about upcoming maneuvers. More than 50,000 people will participate in the exercises, including the armies of other partner states – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Syria and Tajikistan.
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping are preparing to recruit 50,000 troops within 48 hours, sending an ominous threat to the West.
According to the Daily Express’s writer, the Kremlin perceives the supply of weapons to Ukraine and the visit of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan as “America’s attempts to provoke global instability.”
“Announced drills raise concerns Moscow and Beijing may form a formal military allianceThe author of the article has concluded.
Strategic exercises “Vostok-2022”, from September 1-7, at seven training sites of the Eastern Military District, more than 50 thousand people, more than five thousand weapons and military equipment, including 140 aircraft, 60 warships, boats will participate in them and support ships. Joint actions with the Russian army will be carried out by operational command and control groups, military units and observers of the CSTO, SCO and other partner states, especially Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Laos. , Mongolia, Nicaragua, Syria and Tajikistan.
Putin previously said that the US House of Representatives spokesperson Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan was not just a personal trip by an irresponsible politician, it was a brazen display of disrespect for the sovereignty of other countries and a carefully planned provocation.
The situation around Taiwan escalated after Pelosi’s trip to the island in early August. Seeing the island as one of its own provinces, China saw the US support for Taiwanese separatism in such a step, condemning the visit and holding large-scale military exercises.
“Strengthening Defense Bonds”
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said on August 30 that she was concerned about the United States’ involvement in India’s Vostok 2022 exercise. However, she noted that the decision to participate in the maneuvers rests with the countries themselves.
Asked about New Delhi’s participation in joint exercises with Moscow, he said, “The United States is concerned about any country holding exercises with Russia.”
The American edition of Army Times on August 30 considered the maneuvers to strengthen military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing on the backdrop of a special operation in Ukraine. The publication believes that China has refused to respond to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, accusing the United States and NATO of inciting Moscow, and criticizing the sanctions against the Russian Federation. On the other hand, Russia “strongly supported China due to the tensions with the United States after the visit of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.”
“The exercises reflect the strengthening of defense ties between Moscow and Beijing,” the material says.
Do not panic
At a briefing to foreign military attachés on the procedure for conducting the Vostok-2022 exercises, Deputy Head of the Russian Ministry of Defense Alexander Fomin said that the maneuvers are defensive in nature.
“The exercise is not aimed at any particular state or military alliance and is purely defensive in nature,” he said.
According to Fomin, the priority when developing the concept of the exercise was the phased study of options for the actions of the troops to ensure the military security of Russia and its allies in the area of responsibility of the Eastern Military District (VVO). ).
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sent more than 2,000 soldiers and officers, as well as more than 300 pieces of equipment, to the exercises. From the Chinese side, ground forces, the Navy, and the Northern Combat Command Area Air Force participate in the maneuvers. The PLA contingent included about 300 ground vehicles, 21 aircraft and helicopters, as well as three warships.
Japanese protest
On August 29, the Japanese government announced On concerns about the Vostok-2022 exercises in the Kuril Islands.
“We objected to the Russian side through diplomatic channels because it did not coincide with our position on these islands. “We also strongly demanded that the four northern islands (called the Kuril Islands in Japan) be removed from the exercise area,” said Hirokazu Matsuno, Secretary General of the Japanese Cabinet.