Exercise Joint Sea 2021

The Exercise Joint Sea 2021 was held between China and Russia in the Sea of Japan. It is a naval exercise held in October 2021.

Key Facts

• The naval exercise highlighted the growing political and military alignment between China and Russia.
• China sent destroyers and anti-submarine warfare planes. This is the first time China sent artilleries that weighed more than 10,000 tonnes abroad.

Russia in the exercise

Russia sent Admiral Vinogradov and Admiral Tributs to the exercise. These are Udaloy-I class anti-submarine warfare destroyers. They weigh 6,930 tonnes. They were built for the Soviet Navy. These destroyers carried P-270 Moskit supersonic ramjet powered anti-ship missiles. The anti-ship missiles are guided missiles. They are used against large boats and ships.

Russia also sent Peresvet to the exercise. It is a Project 775 Ropucha class landing ship. The ship is capable of carrying 450 tonnes of cargo. It is designed for beach landings. Also, it can carry 230 to 340 troops. Amphibious assaults were conducted during the exercise in the ship.

Inference

Russia is carefully maintaining its balancing act in South China Sea. Though heavy artilleries of Russia participated in the exercise, Russia did not send its newest Navy warships. Also, Russia delivered six submarines and two frigates to Vietnam. By this, it is balancing the maritime disputes in the South China sea between Hanoi (Vietnamese capital) and Beijing (Chinese capital).

About Naval Drills

Russia and China have held six naval drills since 2005. China hosted the exercise for the first time in 2012. In 2015, the countries held amphibious assaults in the Joint Naval Exercise in the Sea of Japan.

China-Russia

China-Russia military collaboration has been increasing since 2014. Especially after the Russian seizure of Crimea. With this Russia was placed in crosshairs of western sanctions. Also, their relationships grew closer after US withdrawal from Afghanistan. In June 2021, the countries renewed their Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation. Since 2018, the countries are conducting larger scale military exercises. More significantly, the top-level commanders of the countries are working together. They also train together under the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation).