Enemy of My Enemy; Regular Large Scale Sino-Russian Military Exercises Likely as the Two Allies Close Ranks

Two major world powers facing growing military pressure from the Western Bloc, China and Russia, are reportedly set to carry out regular joint exercises in the wake of the Vostok 2018 drills - which saw tens of thousands of personnel from both countries, hundreds in Russia’s case, alongside Mongolia simulate a massive joint war effort against a common enemy. The drills were held from September 11-15th, and were the largest held in Russia since the Soviet Union’s disintegration. There was little doubt that the U.S. led Western Bloc, which has threatened both powers in recent years, was the target of these exercises. Russia’s Chairman of the Federation Council's Defense and Security Committee Viktor Bondarev states regarding future Sino-Russian cooperation in the field of defence: “Countries that are militarily weaker and states that are equal, such as China, are seeking an alliance with us. I believe that joint exercises on such a colossal scale as this year will become a good tradition.”

Regarding the ‘weaker states’ referred to by Chairman Bondarev, a number of small countries perceiving similar threats from the Western powers have taken measures to strengthen defence cooperation with Russia, China, or both in recent years. These have included Belarus, Pakistan and North Korea among several others - some of which may participate in future drills alongside Russian and Chinese forces. Russia has also invited China’s People’s Liberation Army to participate in the MAKS 2019 airshow, where the latest Chinese combat jets such as the J-10C, J-11D, J-31 and J-20 are all likely to be displayed, alongside Russia’s own latest equipment including the Su-57 air superiority fighter. As both states move the close ranks in the face of growing threats, and increase both military technical cooperation and coordination in their foreign policy efforts, greater joint involvement in joint military exercises remains likely and a greater regularity to these exercises remains likely.