BEIJING: China and Russia commenced joint naval exercises on Sunday at a military port in southern China, reports Xinhua, China's official news agency. This exercise comes shortly after Nato allies accused Beijing of enabling the war in Ukraine. The Chinese defense ministry clarified that recent patrols by both sides in the western and northern Pacific Ocean were unrelated to international or regional situations and were not aimed at any third party.

The exercises, starting in Guangdong province and scheduled until mid-July, aim to showcase naval capabilities in addressing security threats and maintaining global and regional peace and stability, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV. Activities will include anti-missile drills, sea strikes, and air defense maneuvers.

Xinhua reported that Chinese and Russian naval forces conducted military simulations and tactical coordination exercises following the opening ceremony in Zhanjiang city.

These joint drills follow escalating tensions between China and Nato allies. Nato's recent summit in Washington issued a strongly-worded communique labeling China as a "decisive enabler" of Russia's actions in Ukraine. The alliance's European and North American members, along with Indo-Pacific partners, are increasingly aligning on shared security concerns posed by Russia and its allies, particularly China.

In response, China criticized Nato for prioritizing its security at the expense of others and warned against bringing "chaos" to Asia. China's foreign ministry reiterated its stance of fairness and objectivity regarding the conflict in Ukraine.

Last week, a routine patrol by a US Coast Guard cutter in the Bering Sea encountered several Chinese military vessels in international waters but within the US exclusive economic zone. According to US officials, the vessels were detected north of the Amchitka Pass in the Aleutian Islands, with a subsequent sighting north of the Amukta Pass.

The US affirmed that the Chinese naval activities complied with international norms and regulations.

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