Parsing Chinese-Russian Military Exercises.

摘要

China and Russia have engaged in an increasing number of joint exercises in recent years. These drills aim to help the two countries deter, and if necessary defeat, potential threats such as Islamist terrorists trying to destabilize Central Asian governments while also reassuring their allies that China and Russia will protect them from such threats. Furthermore, the recurring exercises, and other joint Russia-China military activities, have a mutual reassurance function insofar as they inform Moscow and Beijing about the other s military potential and thereby build mutual confidence. Finally, the joint exercises attempt to communicate the message to third parties, especially the United States, that China and Russia have a genuine security partnership that extends to cover Central Asia (a region of great importance for Moscow and Beijing) and possibly other areas such as Northeast Asia. Although still limited in key aspects, the Sino-Russian defense relationship deserves to be monitored by the United States as potentially one of the most significant international security developments of recent years.