The official revealed a detail about the China-Russia joint maritime patrol, what signal does it send?

[Global Times - Global Network Report by reporter Guo Yuandan] On July 29, the "Ministry of Defense Release" announced that the joint maritime patrol between China and Russia has concluded. The report revealed a detail: during the patrol, Chinese vessels set up scenarios based on the current maritime and aerial situation, conducting multiple practical training exercises. In response, military experts interviewed by the Global Times stated that this detail indicates, on one hand, that the training of Chinese vessels in the relevant waters is legal and compliant; on the other hand, it also shows that China is fully capable and prepared to respond to various maritime emergencies in the surrounding areas, warning Japan not to continue provocative surveillance actions.

The report stated that the naval fleet participating in the China-Russia joint maritime patrol arrived in Vladivostok, Russia, on the 29th, marking the end of the joint patrol. The fleet set sail from Qingdao, Shandong, on July 13, passing through the Miyako Strait, the Zarechny Strait, and the Soya Strait, conducting joint patrols in the western Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Japan Sea. During the patrol, both China and Russia jointly conducted exercises including helicopter landings, counter-terrorism operations, humanitarian rescue, and boarding and inspection.

The report emphasized that this joint patrol is part of the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries, aimed at enhancing the joint operational capabilities of both militaries to address maritime security threats, and is unrelated to the current international and regional situation.

Since the first China-Russia joint maritime patrol in October 2021, there have been a total of seven joint maritime patrols to date. Among the routes of previous China-Russia joint maritime patrols, the "Zarechny Strait" is the first to be publicly disclosed by officials. Military expert Zhang Junsha stated on the 29th to the Global Times that compared to previous China-Russia joint maritime patrols, this patrol lasted 17 days, and the joint patrol route has significantly expanded. "If the Chinese naval fleet returns via the Tsushima Strait, the entire track of the Chinese navy will completely encircle the Japanese archipelago from the east, north, and west sides, once again completing a circumnavigation of Japan."

According to reports, the Zarechny Strait is located between Zarechny Island and the Dehu Island, connecting the Sea of Okhotsk with the northwest Pacific Ocean, with a waterway width of about 40 kilometers (approximately 22 nautical miles), making it an important shipping route in the northwest Pacific.

"The Miyako Strait, Soya Strait, and Tsushima Strait are all straits defined by international law for international navigation. The passage of Chinese and Russian vessels throughout the journey fully complies with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and international maritime passage practices, making it legal and compliant," Zhang Junsha emphasized. He noted that the regular joint patrols between the Chinese and Russian navies are beneficial for accumulating hydrological and sea condition information in various straits and waterways of the western Pacific, laying a solid foundation for coordinated responses to various maritime security risks.

In the message released by the "Ministry of Defense Release," there is a detail worth noting: Chinese vessels also set up scenarios based on the current maritime and aerial situation, conducting multiple practical training exercises.

"The official disclosure of the 'scenario setting' detail proves that the fleet possesses strong situational awareness, emergency response, and dynamic confrontation capabilities. All training is conducted based on real maritime and aerial conditions, not staged sailing, demonstrating a mature and reliable level of operational realism at sea," Zhang Junsha analyzed.

What kind of maritime aerial situation prompted the Chinese vessels to conduct multiple practical training exercises? "In fact, the Japanese vessels have long been closely trailing and conducting reconnaissance on our fleet, even intermingling with our fleet, which itself is the source of maritime tension," Zhang Junsha said. "The 'scenario setting for practical exercises' sends a clear deterrent signal: China has the capability to conduct counter-exercises against various maritime disturbances and sudden maritime risks in the surrounding areas, and is fully prepared to respond to various maritime emergencies, warning Japan not to continue provocative surveillance actions."

Additionally, the fleet participating in this China-Russia joint patrol consists of the Chinese Navy's missile destroyers Kaifeng and Anshan, and the comprehensive supply ship Kekexili Lake, along with the Russian Navy's "Razor" missile frigate. In the latest preview of the media piece "Winning," released on the 29th, footage was shown for the first time of the vertical launch system on the front of the 052D destroyer launching the YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile.

"This indicates that the Kaifeng can carry long-range hypersonic strike weapons, and its overall combat capability is comparable to mainstream large destroyers and frigates globally, also possessing strong air defense, anti-surface, and precision strike capabilities against land targets," Zhang Junsha analyzed. He noted that all three main destroyers of China and Russia can implement precise strikes against maritime, aerial, and land targets, and the series of practical exercises effectively hones the joint maritime combat capabilities of both sides, enhancing the comprehensive level of the two countries' navies in responding to various maritime security threats.

Meanwhile, experts believe that the disclosure of this detail has deeper significance, as it responds to Japan's unfounded accusations that "Chinese vessels conducted routine artillery training in the waters about 180 kilometers southwest of the Okinotorishima." This proves that Chinese vessels are conducting training exercises in the high seas in a compliant and transparent manner.

Previously, Japan unilaterally sensationalized this matter, accusing that during the China-Russia joint maritime patrol, Chinese warships conducted shooting training within the so-called Japanese "exclusive economic zone." In response, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian refuted that according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Okinotorishima is a reef and not an island, and cannot have an exclusive economic zone or continental shelf. Japan's claim of an "exclusive economic zone" based on Okinotorishima violates international law.

Lin Jian stated that China's activities in the relevant high seas are in accordance with international law and international practices, and Japan's smear campaign against the legitimate actions of other countries, exaggerating external threats, is an excuse for its own accelerated "remilitarization" and challenges to the post-war international order. The international community must remain highly vigilant and jointly resist this dangerous trend.

In the latest message released by the Ministry of Defense, what signal does the disclosure of this detail send? In this regard, Zhang Junsha stated, "This also reaffirms China's position that the waters belong to the high seas, and Japan's unilateral designation of an exclusive economic zone does not comply with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Japan's so-called 'dangerous activities' accusations have no legal basis, and China does not accept unfounded accusations."

"We actively disclose the details of practical exercises, and our attitude is very clear: the Chinese navy's navigation and training in the high seas and international straits are legal rights. Japan's protests, tracking, and sensationalism cannot interfere with the PLA's normal training plans, and China will continue to conduct more distant sea training based on its own situation," Zhang Junsha emphasized.