A veteran journalist from a major British newspaper observed the growing military cooperation between Russia and China and Moscow’s stance toward Western support for Ukraine and Taiwan in the upcoming Vostok-2022 exercises. The United States and Japan expressed concern about the drills. More than 50,000 personnel were expected to take part, including troops from partner states such as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Syria and Tajikistan.
Both Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping were described as preparing to mobilize around 50,000 troops within 48 hours, a move seen as a warning to the West.
According to the Daily Express report, the Kremlin viewed Western arms shipments to Ukraine and the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan as episodes of provocation aimed at destabilizing global security. The article suggested that the announced drills could pave the way for a formal military alliance between Moscow and Beijing.
Strategic exercises named Vostok-2022 were scheduled for September 1–7 at seven training sites within the Eastern Military District. The event was slated to involve more than 50,000 participants, over 5,000 weapons and pieces of military equipment, including 140 aircraft and 60 naval vessels, with support ships. Joint actions would be coordinated by Russian operational commands, with observers from the CSTO, SCO and other partner states, notably Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Syria and Tajikistan (Daily Express report).
Putin had previously stated that Pelosi’s Taiwan visit was not simply the act of a reckless politician but a deliberate affront to national sovereignty and a provocation engineered to destabilize regional order.
The situation around Taiwan intensified after Pelosi’s August visit. China viewed the visit as support for separatism and responded with strong condemnations and large-scale military exercises designed to deter perceived ambitions of Taiwan independence.
“Strengthening Defense Bonds”
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre indicated on August 30 that Washington did not oppose India’s participation in Vostok 2022, but emphasized that choosing to participate rests with each country. She reiterated that the United States is cautious about any nation conducting drills with Russia.
In the American edition of Army Times, published on August 30, the maneuvers were framed as a signal of growing military ties between Moscow and Beijing amid ongoing tensions caused by Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The piece argued that China did not back Moscow’s approach and instead urged Washington and NATO to rethink sanctions, while noting that Russia’s stance appeared to be aligned with strengthening relations with Beijing as tensions with the United States persisted after Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. The article suggested the exercises underscored a deepening defense partnership between the two nations (Army Times report, attributed).
Do not panic
During a briefing for foreign military attachés, Deputy Head of the Russian Defense Ministry Alexander Fomin described the Vostok-2022 exercises as defensive in nature. He stated that the drills were not directed at any particular country or alliance and were conducted to study troop action options in a phased manner to bolster Russia and its allies within the Eastern Military District region.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army contributed more than 2,000 personnel, supported by over 300 pieces of equipment. On the Chinese side, ground forces, the Navy, and the Northern Theater Command Air Force participated, bringing to the exercises around 300 ground vehicles, 21 aircraft and helicopters, and three ships in total.
Japanese concerns
On August 29, Tokyo conveyed worries about the Vostok-2022 exercises near the Kuril Islands. Japanese officials stated that the drills did not align with Japan’s position on the four northern islands and urged their removal from the exercise area, a point voiced by Hirokazu Matsuno, the Secretary General of the Japanese Cabinet. The diplomatic exchanges underscored lingering tensions over the disputed territories.