In a message to the US, China and Russia conducted a large-scale strategic military exercise in northwest China. This comes at a time when their common adversary, the US, is holding months-long exercises with its Quartet (QUAD) allies across the Indo-Pacific.
During the exercise, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) mobilized many advanced weapons and equipment, including the J-20 stealth fighter, the Y-20 large transport aircraft, which is also the point of interest of the ceremony.
According to Chinese experts, this is the first time that the PLA has sent the J-20 to participate in a joint exercise with another country. The PLA move allows the Russian military to get a first-hand look at the J-20 Mighty Dragon, which competes with the Russian Su-57.
Analysts see this as a testament to the high level of cooperation and mutual trust shared by the Chinese and Russian militaries at a time when both countries are facing challenges posed by changing security situations. change in Central Asia after the withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan in addition to a direct threat from the United States.
This is the first joint exercise hosted by China since the outbreak of COVID-19.
“The appearance of the J-20 in the exercises shows that the military cooperation, exchange and mutual trust between China and Russia have reached a very high level because the J-20 is one of the most advanced pieces of hardware in the world. China’s most advanced,” said Song Zhongping, a military expert and Chinese television commentator,
Press releases issued by China and Russia said Russian soldiers had access to the PLA’s Type 11 wheeled artillery and Type 08 infantry fighting vehicles during training last week.
During the Caucasus-2020 strategic exercises held in Russia last September, the Chinese military used weapons and main combat equipment provided by the Russian military for the first time, including tanks. T-72B3, BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle and Igla-S air defence missile