On Monday, China and Russia initiated their second collaborative computer-assisted anti-missile exercise, which experts suggest could serve as a deterrent to potential missile threats, in light of the escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
The joint drill, which commenced in Beijing, is set to run until Saturday, as revealed by China’s Defense Ministry on its official website. The ministry emphasized the exercise as a practical step to materialize the vital consensus reached by both nations’ leaders to intensify Sino-Russian anti-missile collaboration.
The ministry further noted that the joint exercise aims to bolster mutual strategic trust between China and Russia and enhance anti-missile cooperation between their militaries. It has immense significance in collectively addressing regional ballistic and cruise missile threats.
The ministry clarified that the drill doesn’t target any third party, stating, “China and Russia are against the development of global anti-missile systems. Both militaries will escalate practical cooperation in anti-missile defense, with an objective to jointly protect Chinese and Russian security interests and maintain regional strategic balance.”
Senior Colonel Wu Qian, the Defense Ministry spokesperson, detailed the exercise’s goal to “jointly train for anti-missile combat planning and preparation, launch command, and firing coordination” during a press briefing in November.
The Korean Peninsula has been grappling with mounting tensions since the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea launched its Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile in November, believed to be capable of carrying nuclear warheads and reaching the mainland United States, as reported by DPRK media.
Su Hao, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs Academy, underlined the importance for China and Russia to strengthen strategic trust and collaborate in anti-missile defense to safeguard their nations from potential threats.
Investors and those interested in the region’s security dynamics will find this development noteworthy, even though the article primarily focuses on the military collaboration between China and Russia.
