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China-Russia relations
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China-Russia military drill makes room for combined force against US

  • For the first time the two armies used a joint command and control system in a move which echoes the Nato approach
  • Chinese and Russian troops were integrated and shared equipment during the joint operations

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Russian troops take part in the joint drills with the PLA in China’s northwestern region of Ningxia. Photo: Reuters
Catherine Wong
The week-long exercise between the Chinese and Russian armies in northwestern China shows they are pushing for Nato-level interoperability – opening up the possibility for joint military campaigns to counter their common rival the US, military observers said.
The 10,000 troops, from the PLA’s Western Theatre Command and the Eastern Military District of Russia, wrapped up the Zapad/Interaction-2021 exercises in Ningxia region on Friday. The drills gave the PLA an opportunity to test its newest weapons, as well as showing an ability to work coherently with the Russian forces.

For the first time, the two militaries used a joint command and control system. The Russian troops were integrated into larger Chinese formations and carried out operations planned by the PLA, according to a statement by China’s defence ministry on Wednesday.

In a show of the high level political commitment to the exercises, Russian defence minister Sergey Shoigu (left) presided over Friday’s closing ceremony of the joint exercises with his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe. Photo: Reuters
In a show of the high level political commitment to the exercises, Russian defence minister Sergey Shoigu (left) presided over Friday’s closing ceremony of the joint exercises with his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe. Photo: Reuters

It was also the first time Russian troops used armoured assault vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and other main battle equipment provided by the Chinese military, a common practice in Nato exercises.

The exercise was the first joint military operation hosted by China since the advent of the pandemic and has drawn attention over its implications for the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. But observers say the two militaries have an ultimate target in mind – the United States.

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