Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday that the US and NATO’s move to focus on countering China in the Asia Pacific has led to an increase in military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing.
“We know how seriously the People’s Republic of China regards these provocations [by NATO in the South China Sea], let alone Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait. We understand that this playing with fire by NATO in that part of the world carries threats and risks for the Russian Federation,” Lavrov said at a press conference, according to TASS.
In recent years, the US has stepped up its military presence in the South China Sea and near Taiwan, and some of its European allies have sent ships to the region, including the UK, France, and Germany.
“It’s as close to our shores and our seas as it is to Chinese territory. So, our military cooperation with the People’s Republic of China is developing. We are holding joint exercises, both counterterrorism exercises and air patrolling exercises,” Lavrov said.
NATO has identified China as a “challenge” to the alliance and has said it should forge stronger relationships with countries in the Asia Pacific, including Australia, South Korea, Japan, and India. Building new alliances in the region is a key aspect of the US strategy against China, as outlined by the Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.
Lavrov said that the US and NATO are trying to create an “explosive situation” in the Asia Pacific and pointed to the AUKUS military pact between the US, Britain, and Australia. Under AUKUS, Australia is expected to receive technology to develop nuclear-powered submarines, and the US will expand its military presence in Australia.
China has previously warned that the Biden administration’s efforts to build alliances in the Asia Pacific could lead to a Ukraine-style “tragedy” in the region. “The United States has tried to create regional tension and provoke confrontation by pushing forward the Indo-Pacific strategy,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said back in April.
The increasing military cooperation between Russia and China is a natural reaction to the similar pressure they are facing from the West. In a sign of the growing ties, Russian and Chinese bombers flew a joint patrol over the western Pacific on Wednesday.
From War Zone: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/russian-chinese-bombers-land-at-each-others-airfields-after-joint-patrols
All of the Countries in the Indo-Pacific are allied with China and Russia
Australia, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand too?
And are you sure that Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia are allied with China?
Philippines, Malaysia, Virtnam — definitelly allied w China — but allied means very differentent things to East and West. Allies does not mean being undriendly or closed anyone. It means in SCO or BRIKS that being froendly does not involve harming someone else for the sake of alliance. For NATO it is a requirement.
But have fairly serious border issues with China in the South China sea.
Allies does not mean being unfriendly or closed (to) anyone, anywhere in the west either.
Again unless entering into a conflict state being allies does not mean being unfriendly to anyone else in the west either – as Germany’s and Hungary’s close relations to Russia clearly demonstrates.
New Zealand is economically tied to China. If. NZ were to loose China as its main trading partner its economy would totally collapse. So NZ has to be careful not to upset China. We also have a very large Chinese community in NZ. However NZ does participate in US, Australian, UK, Japan, S Korea provocative militairy exercises in the Pacific.
Are we supposed to be surprised at this?
“We’re living in a nuclear world and I am a nuclear girl?!” NOT!
The President of Taiwan, who focused on China being a threat to Taiwanese people, lost recent elections. Unfortunately, her presidency was not included. Here’s how WAPO spun it: “Concerns about threats from rival China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, took a backseat to more local issues in the elections.” Will the US give up on war or will it Ukrainize Taiwan by conducting a regime change/force Taiwan into war with China? My bet is on the latter.
Russia; China; Iran. These nations comprise enormous swaths of land with populations that outnumber—at least I’m assuming—-those of the United Snakes and the You’re-a-peein’ Union.
Go ahead, so-called “west”, and try takin’ ‘em on. We already know that Amerikkka doesn’t f*ck with nuclear-armed nations.
Bravo!
^^^^
Bows to Donna 😊
Too bad the fools who make foreign policy for the US didn’t listen to Pat Buchanan about Russia. All they accomplished was to drive Russia into the arms of the PRC.
Russia better be careful about this ‘increased’ cooperation. China might be just preparing for a potential take over in Kremlin and secretly getting ready to retaking lost land to Russia.
You defy even logic….
Don’t forget the wall! It still works! No Mexican has ever crossed it.