China, Russia Conduct Joint Naval Patrols in Asia-Pacific

China and Russia are boosting their military cooperation as they begin joint maritime patrols in the Asia-Pacific.

Transcript

00:00China and Russia are boosting their military cooperation.

00:04The two have begun carrying out joint maritime patrols in the Asia-Pacific.

00:09The Russian Pacific Fleet's press service announced the patrols on Wednesday.

00:14Analysts say these kind of activities have several key benefits.

00:30Before the patrols began, the two navies held a five-day joint exercise in the Sea of Japan,

00:42also known as the East Sea, that included artillery practice,

00:47anti-submarine and air defense training, and improving joint search and rescue at sea.

00:53It was also the first time a Chinese submarine took part in the drills.

00:56China says they were for defensive purposes and not aimed at any other country.

01:10But analysts say both the drills and the patrols are part of China's grey zone efforts

01:15and could signify something more serious.

01:17The region has seen a surge in military activity this summer.

01:38In July, Taiwan hosted its largest ever annual military drills.

01:41The US and Australia also carried out a massive joint exercise, known as talisman saber.

01:48And while China and Russia were holding their naval drills earlier this month,

01:52India and Philippines carried out their own two-day exercise in the disputed South China Sea.

01:58This all comes as China continues to turn the screws on Taiwan,

02:02ramping up grey zone efforts around the country.

02:05On Thursday, Taiwan saw a spike in Chinese military activity nearby.

02:09It spotted 47 aircraft operating in the area.

02:1432 of those entered Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone,

02:18an area that serves as a buffer zone but is not its sovereign airspace.

02:23China said the activity was part of a joint combat readiness patrol.

02:28Taiwan, now used to these incursions as a near-daily occurrence,

02:33says it closely monitored the situation and responded accordingly.

02:37Chris Ma and Alan Lu for Taiwan Plus.