China & Russia Launch Massive Joint Maritime-War Ops in Sea of Japan

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

The Chinese and Russian Navies have launched massive, joint “four-day” Naval warfare preparation exercises in the Sea of Japan in a transparent effort to demonstrate power, intimidate Japan and Taiwan and send a message of Russian-Chinese cooperation regarding security in the Pacific. 

The now-underway exercise, called Northern/Interaction 2023 includes Russian and Chinese warships conducting a range of maritime combat operations to include anti-submarine missions, sea-and-air escort of ships, naval combat and securing communications in the Sea of Japan, according to reports published in the Chinese government-backed Global Times newspaper. 

The paper says the exercises include Chinese Frigates and Type 052D destroyers along with as many as 30-aircraft such as the J-16 fighter jet, Y-20 cargo-transport plane, KJ-500 early warning surveillance aircraft and the Z-20 helicopter. 

The Chinese and Russians have been conducting joint training exercises over the course of many years, yet this current demonstration does seem to represent an escalation to an extent, given that it is aimed at the Sea of Japan. The Global Times specifically cites comments from Japanese leaders explaining that a “Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency.”  Citing this comment, the PRC-backed Global Times indicates that the Russian-Chinese naval war drills are aimed at intimidating Japan and sending a message of resolve regarding the unification of Taiwan. 

The exercise raises key questions when it comes to the current global warfare environment. It is not clear if China is providing any substantial or material support to Russia’s efforts in Ukraine, yet the concern is without question on the Pentagon’s radar. The exercises to indicate a Russian interest in projecting an image of continued power amid its devastating, visible and widely known losses in Ukraine.  However Russian naval power has for many years been far less “daunting” than its large ground force, missile arsenal and high-performance fighter jets. 

The Chinese Navy would indeed seem to pose a serious threat to Japan and Taiwan, yet it is not clear if Russian Naval assets would do much to impact the threat or capability equation. This is particularly true because Russia’s lone aircraft carrier is still inoperable and dry docked for repairs. However, Russia’s large and technologically advanced fleet of submarines would clearly present a threat to Japan, Taiwan and the US in the Pacific, should they be employed in any military effort.