The Sino-Russian Strategic Partnership starts to get serious!

montyp165 said:

Nonetheless, any land power needs to have effective seapower to secure its powerbase, because failure to do so enables the incumbent seapower to control the strategic initiative. The Romans after all couldn't have secured their control of the Mediterranean without defeating Carthage, likewise Russia or China need to control the seas around them to improve their strategic positions too regardless of the landlines of control/trade present.

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I was in no way advocating that China should abandon its modernization efforts of its navy. Not at all.

I was simply pointing out China's immutable geographical disadvantage when it comes to sea power, and that China cannot and should not try to match the US in naval power projection.

Certainly, a strong PLAN is needed for the security of the nation, but its operational areas will be largely restricted to the East and South China Seas.

In comparison, the USN has both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans as its playground.

China and Russia will hold joint military exercise in Meditteranean Sea. First time for China. MS is Russia's sphere, and it invites China.

My question is: Will China invite Russia to jointly defend or patrol South China Sea?
I see it as a possibility, but what prevents China from doing so until today?
What negative effects will it have on the situation for China?

Who is 313230?

balance said:

China and Russia will hold joint military exercise in Meditteranean Sea. First time for China. MS is Russia's sphere, and it invites China.

My question is: Will China invite Russia to jointly defend or patrol South China Sea?
I see it as a possibility, but what prevents China from doing so until today?
What negative effects will it have on the situation for China?

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I don't think South China sea but maybe a stroll around Japan? Just a guess.

no_name said:

I don't think South China sea but maybe a stroll around Japan? Just a guess.

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Last year's Russian-Sino naval exercises were in fact in the Japan vicinity.

China may not want to see Russia become too involved in SCS affairs or open a precedence (and really there is nothing there that China can't handle herself short of US getting involved, in which case Russian addition will have limited effect), but Japan is one that they both have territorial disputes with so in my opinion if they were to hold a joint exercise it will be with this as backdrop, but of course they will say that this is not aimed at any country in particular.

no_name said:

Japan is one that they both have territorial disputes with so in my opinion if they were to hold a joint exercise it will be with this as backdrop, but of course they will say that this is not aimed at any country in particular.

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Which is exactly what occurred with their last joint exercise in the Pacific.

This is a very interesting picture taken earlier today at the Moscow Victory Parade.


These are the Chinese Soldiers taking part in the parade. The interesting detail is that they are all wearing the St Georges ribbon .
It has of course been a theme of the whole Parade, but there is no way on earth that the Chinese Government were unaware of the particular symbolism of that ribbon currently in the Ukraine.

The sight then of these soldiers marching in Moscow, wearing that ribbon and in front of the Chinese President; seated next to the Russian President, sends a very loud message indeed!

A symbol of loyalty to the Kremlin? ... and wearing by Chinese soldiers?

Whats happening here?