Despite being engaged in military stand-offs at some friction points at the border in Ladakh for the last two years, India and China are likely to take part in a multi-nation military exercise in Russia next month.
The mega drill, where more than 50,000 troops from several countries will be present, also takes place against the backdrop of the ongoing Russian military action in Ukraine.
The eight-day Vostok 2022 military exercises involving more than 140 aircraft and 60 warships will commence from September 1 in different locations in the Far East and the Sea of Japan.
India and China are likely to take part in the drills spread over 13 locations and not exercise together.
“The Vostok 2022 strategic command and staff exercise envisages various scenarios of operations by combined arms and coalition forces (troops) to ensure military security of the Russian Federation and its allies within the area of responsibility of the Eastern Military District,” the Russian Defence Ministry was quoted as saying by the state-owned TASS news agency in a statement.
The drills will “practise defensive and offensive operations” at seven training grounds of the Eastern Military District and in maritime and coastal areas of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan, the Ministry said.
“The strategic maneuvers will bring together over 50,000 troops and more than 5,000 items of armaments and military hardware, in particular, 140 aircraft, 60 combat ships, gunboats and support vessels,” it said, adding that it will engage troops from China, India, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Syria and several ex-Soviet nations.
Russia’s military contingent in the drills will involve military command centers and troops of the Eastern Military District, Airborne Force units, long-range and military transport planes.
“The drills are set to master the skills of commanders and headquarters in exercising command and control of combined arms and coalition forces to repel acts of aggression in the Eastern direction and in the Far Eastern maritime zone, raise compatibility and interoperability of the collation forces in jointly coping with the objectives of maintaining peace, protecting interests and ensuring military security in the Eastern region,” the Ministry said.
The maneuvers will also check the preparedness of military command centers in planning operations in maritime areas, ensuring all-embracing logistics support, command and control of battle groups in warfare, it said.
The tactical episodes of the drills are based on various scenarios of practical operations by military contingents of Russia and partner states, with the basic stage to be held at the Sergeyevsky practice range, the Ministry said.
The Russian and Chinese naval forces will undertake joint operations in the Sea of Japan to defend sea lanes and areas of maritime economic activity and assist ground forces in maritime directions, it added.
Last year, India attended Exercise ZAPAD 2021 drills in Russia in which 17 countries including China and Pakistan took part.
Earlier this month, the Chinese Defence Ministry in a Press release said the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has sent personnel to participate in this exercise, which aims to deepen pragmatic and friendly cooperation with the militaries of participating countries, enhance the level of strategic coordination of all participating parties, and enhance the ability to deal with various security threats.
The drills are unrelated to the current international and regional situation, it said, apparently referring to the Ukraine war as well as the Ladakh standoff. China’s Defence Ministry also said “India, Belarus, Tajikistan, Mongolia and other countries will also participate”.
Incidentally, away from Vostok-22 , India will also be taking part in a three-week exercise, “Pitch Black-22” with the United States and several NATO countries in northern Australia.
India is among 17 nations participating in this military exercise involving about 100 aircraft and 2,500 military personnel. The exercises started on August 19 and will end on September 8.
This is a biennial, multinational exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The last edition was conducted in 2018. The 2020 edition of the exercise was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The IAF contingent, led by Group Captain YPS Negi, comprises over 100 air warriors, deployed with four Su-30s.