By Jim Morris, Warrior Vice President, News
China is denying that its just-completed live-fire joint exercise with Russia in the South China Sea had anything to do with recent tensions with the Philippines, or was meant to send any kind of message.
Ships from the two navies conducted six days of drills off China’s Guangdong province, ranging from air and missile defense to anti-submarine warfare to reconnaissance and early warning. In the so-called harbor phase of the exercise, there were table wargames and ship visits by sailors and officers.
Beijing said the maneuvers were aimed at dealing with “maritime security threats.” More to the point, the Chinese Communist Party’s English-language newspaper, the Global Times, quoted experts who refuted unnamed claims from the West linking the drills to clashes with the Philippines, the Russia-Ukraine war and confronting NATO.
According to the paper, “They stressed that unlike the US that aims to maintain its global military hegemony, the China-Russia military cooperation provides stabilizing factors to the deteriorating global and regional security.” The experts also said that while the drills were combat-oriented, they did not designate a specific third party as a target.
Among the vessels taking part: the Russian corvettes Rezkiy and Gromkiy and the Chinese destroyer Nanning, the frigate Hengshui and a supply ship. There were an estimated 30 training sessions, which included live-firing at aerial, maritime and coastal targets.
On Wednesday, the People’s Liberation Army reported, three of the ships had to intercept high-speed anti-ship missiles simulated by target aircraft. One Chinese ship launched a ship-to-air missile during that drill, while a Russian ship fired multiple rounds from one of its guns.
Russia and China began their joint drills in the Yellow Sea in 2005. They began moving the exercises to different regions seven years later. Earlier this month, the two countries completed a joint naval patrol in the north Pacific.
Beijing claims roughly 90 percent of the South China Sea as its own. That conflicts with the Philippines claim over a 200-mile exclusive economic zone which includes a tiny reef where Manila has established a small garrison.
In recent months, China’s coast guard has confronted Filipino ships sent to resupply the garrison, frequently using water cannon against the vessel. In one incident, Chinese personnel reportedly used axes and knives against Filipino sailors, and at least one was said to have been seriously injured.
Now Beijing and Manila are said to have set up a hotline between their presidential offices to prevent another confrontation from getting out of control.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Charles Q. Brown, met in Manila this week with his Philippine counterpart, Gen. Romeo Brawner. They discussed how they could boost military ties and operate forces jointly.
In recent months, there have been multiple military exercises between the two nations. The US has been granted access to more bases in the Philippines, and at one point last month, the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan was resupplied and refueled for extended deterrence missions in the Philippine Sea.
