CHINA-RUSSIA: NAVY EXERCISES
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An article in the official Global Times on May 7, 2015, quoted the Beijing-based Sina Military Network article explaining the reasons for the China-Russia navy drills being held for the first time in the Mediterranean. It said that despite the statement of the Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Geng Yansheng that "The aim [of the drills] is to deepen both countries' friendly and practical cooperation and increase our navies' ability to jointly deal with maritime security threats," and that "These exercises are not aimed at any third party and have nothing to do with the regional situation," there is no doubt that joint military drills will always send a signal. It asserted that, for example, US-Japan drills in the East China Sea and US-Philippines drills in the South China Sea "are surely aimed at China due to the territorial disputes in those regions". Similarly "US-South Korea drills, on the other hand, are clearly aimed at North Korea". It added that "in this case, the target of the maritime exercise is obviously the US, which China feels has been intefering in China's expansion activities in the East and South China seas by strengthening ties with Japan and the Philippines, while also leading economic sanctions against the Russian Federation for annexing Crimea from Ukraine last year".
According to Sina Military, there are four primary reasons China and Russia decided to choose the Mediterranean for a joint naval exercise: (i) Russia's desire to further deepen its comprehensive strategic cooperation with China. It explained that Russia and China are comprehensive strategic partners with neither China nor Russia considered above the other in the hierarchy. Unlike alliances between the US and other countries, China and Russia regard each other as equals in this partnership; (ii) Russia has a strong desire to highlight its presence in the Mediterranean and demonstrate its special relationship with China. Further, Russia wants to expand its influence in the region by showing that it is strategically aligned with China when it comes to the Middle East. It is essentially a declaration to the European Union and Middle Eastern countries that Russia has not abandoned them despite its troubles resulting from the Ukraine crisis; (iii) China wants to demonstrate its influence in the Middle East and North Africa as well as its ability in ensuring safe maritime routes.The Mediterranean connects the Middle East, North AFrica and Europe, delivering a perfect opportunity for China to boost its presence where it matters. China has also never really showed off its military presence in the Mediterranean before, and this drill will allow the People's Liberation Army Navy to gain combat experience in familiar waters while also showing that China has the ability to carve out a safe sea route all the way to Europe; and (iv) China and Russia put together the drills to put on a show for Europe. China wants to deepen cooperation with Europe, while sending a message to Europe that Beijing is standing by Moscow.
Sina Military added that China is also trying to entice European countries to join Chinese president Xi Jinping's ambitious "Belt and Road" initiative, which aims to organize multinational economic development in Eurasia through the land-based Silk Road Economic Belt and oceangoing Maritime Silk Road.
(Comments: A total of nine ships from the two countries will take part in the Mediterranean drills, including vessels China now has deployed for anti-piracy patrols in waters off Somalia. The exercise will be focus on navigation safety, at-sea replenishment, escort missions and live fire exercises.)
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