Chinese troops will travel to Russia to engage in a joint military exercise, along with other countries including India, Belarus, Mongolia and Tajikistan, the Chinese defense ministry announced Wednesday.
Personnel from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are expected to travel to Russia to take part in the “Vostok” wargames exercise with other nations, the last of which occurred in 2018, according to Reuters. The drills are expected to run between Aug. 30 to Sept. 5 in Russia’s eastern military district, the outlet reported.
China’s participation is “unrelated to the current international and regional situation,” according to the statement from the ministry released on Wednesday, Reuters noted. “The aim is to deepen practical and friendly cooperation with the armies of participating countries, enhance the level of strategic collaboration among the participating parties, and strengthen the ability to respond to various security threats.”
The #Chinese PLA will send some of its forces to Russia to participate in Vostok-2022 joint military exercise, along with India, Belarus, Tajikistan and Mongolia. The exercise is not related to the current international and regional situation: China’s Ministry of National Defense pic.twitter.com/wtyMl9RpId
— Beijing Evening News (@BeijingEvening) August 17, 2022
“As the world enters a new period of turbulence and transformation, the right choice is to join hands to build a community with a shared future for mankind,” Chinese state councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe said during a speech at the 10th Moscow Conference Tuesday, according to a release from China’s Defense Ministry. (RELATED: JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon Thinks China Might Be Right About America Being ‘Incompetent And Lazy’)
“Countries in the world must strengthen solidarity and coordination, uphold fairness and justice, safeguard peace and stability, join hands to reject act of hegemony, highhandedness and bullying, and work together to safeguard regional and global peace and tranquility,” he added.
Despite ongoing warfare between Ukraine and Russia, China has appeared to not be evading U.S.-led sanctions on the latter or have provided any military aid or assistance during the conflict, Reuters reported.
The exercises come as plans are reportedly underway for an in-person meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year and two weeks after Pelosi’s historic visit to Taiwan, the latter increasing tensions in the region.