Kitajska in Rusija izzivajo ameriške zaveznike z urjenjem v Aziji

China and Russia have intensified their military coordination in the Asia-Pacific region, conducting large-scale naval drills that include live-fire exercises near Japan’s exclusive economic zone. These maneuvers, involving a Chinese guided-missile destroyer and a Russian frigate, took place approximately 100 miles southwest of Okinotori, Japan, and were reportedly the first live-fire exercise by the joint flotilla. The drills, which included three additional Chinese warships, appear designed to challenge U.S. allies and test their responses to growing Russian-Chinese military influence. Japanese officials responded swiftly to the exercise, lodging a formal diplomatic protest with Beijing. Government spokesperson Minoru Kihara stated that the drills posed a potential threat to nearby vessels, noting that China had issued warnings to ships operating in the area prior to the live-fire demonstration. This marks another instance of heightened tensions between Tokyo and Beijing, as Japan continues to express concern over the expanding scope and complexity of Russian-Chinese military collaboration. Since 2022, the number of joint exercises between the two nations has decreased slightly, from 14 in the preceding year to six, but the quality and strategic intent of these operations have increased significantly. Notably, this year’s drills included the first-ever joint submarine patrol between the two countries. Analysts suggest that the recent exercises are part of a broader effort to assert influence over the Indo-Pacific region and challenge the U.S.-led security framework. Raji Rajagopalan, a resident senior fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, noted that the drills, particularly those conducted within Japan’s exclusive economic zone, are likely intended to signal strength to Japan, a key U.S. ally hosting around 55,000 American troops. “China is increasingly engaging in behavior that could be considered risky, and it is clearly sending a message,” Rajagopalan remarked. She emphasized that Japan’s growing security role in the Indo-Pacific has not gone unnoticed by Beijing. The escalating military activities between China and Russia come amid a series of provocative incidents, including a notable live-fire exercise in the Tasman Sea in February 2025, which disrupted commercial air traffic. Such actions underscore a shift toward normalized military presence in areas historically dominated by the United States and its allies. Analysts argue that these exercises complicate efforts by Washington and its partners to predict how Moscow and Beijing might react in a crisis, such as a conflict over Taiwan. Despite lacking a formal military alliance, China and Russia share strategic interests in countering the U.S.-led global order. Their cooperation provides mutual advantages: China gains access to Russia’s battlefield experience in Ukraine, while Russia benefits from China’s advanced industrial capabilities, including drone technology. China, despite its neutrality stance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, remains a critical partner for Moscow, offering both political support and logistical assistance. Chinese officials have dismissed Japan’s concerns, calling them “completely unfounded.” A spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian, accused Japan of using external threats as a pretext to justify its own “remilitarization” efforts. The Chinese and Russian foreign ministries did not respond to requests for comment from Newsweek, while the Pentagon remained silent on the issue. As tensions persist, the implications of these exercises extend beyond immediate regional concerns, signaling a deeper realignment of power dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.