BEIJING—During a meeting Monday with the commander of Russia's navy, China's defense minister reaffirmed the country's military cooperation with Russia, the first formal military discussions between the close neighbors since a brief mutiny by the Russian mercenary organization Wagner.
After meeting in Beijing, Chinese military Minister Li Shangfu told Russian Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov that the Chinese government aimed for more exchanges, joint exercises, and other types of cooperation that would push military ties to a "new level."
“The Chinese and Russian navies have close exchanges and frequent interactions,” the ministry quoted Li as saying. “It is hoped that the two sides will strengthen communication at all levels, regularly organize joint training, joint patrols, and joint war games.”
China has the world's largest fleet in terms of hull count and far outnumbers Russia's navy in both size and technical capability. Since Russia's full-fledged invasion of Ukraine last year, the nations' navies and air forces have conducted a series of drills and cooperative operations.
The military cooperation represents an informal partnership between the Chinese and Russian governments to resist the US-led liberal international order. They share foreign policies and positions at the UN, where Beijing has routinely provided diplomatic cover for Moscow.
While claiming neutrality in the Ukraine conflict, China's communist dictatorship has sided with Russia, accusing the US and NATO of inciting Moscow and stoking the slaughter by arming Ukraine.
In deference to Moscow, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has refrained to criticize the invasion or refer to it as such but has also stated that it would not give Russia military help or weaponry for the battle.
Since the failed rebellion led by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, the CCP has said it supports Russian efforts to "stabilize the situation in the country." Prigozhin's march on Moscow, which he launched and then called off last month, posed the most serious challenge to President Vladimir Putin's two decades in power.
Recent events have firmly established Russia as the junior partner in the relationship with China. Because of war-related sanctions, Russia's economy is significantly reliant on oil purchases from China and India.
Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet in a virtual summit on Tuesday, marking Putin's first international encounter since the Wagner revolution shook Russia.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization conference, a security organization formed by Russia and China to oppose Western alliances from East Asia to the Indian Ocean, is an obvious indicator Putin still has some backing.
