China and Russia Strengthen Military Alliance Against the West

In a notable shift in geopolitical dynamics, China and Russia have forged a more profound political and economic alliance aimed at countering Western influence. This partnership is increasingly manifesting through cooperative military exercises that are becoming bolder and more provocative.

Recently, Chinese and Russian long-range bombers conducted joint patrols near Alaska for the first time, marking a significant escalation in their military collaboration. This event was closely followed by their first live-fire naval drills in the South China Sea in eight years, a region fraught with territorial disputes. Moreover, both nations have been frequently conducting aerial and naval operations in close proximity to Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, areas of strategic interest to the United States.

These military maneuvers symbolize a deeper alignment between Xi Jinping, China’s paramount leader, and Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, as they both seek to challenge the prevailing dominance of the United States on the global stage. Frustrated by American trade restrictions and the U.S. strategy of building security alliances in Asia, China has sought to counterbalance these moves by courting European nations through trade agreements and expanding its influence in developing countries via investments. Nevertheless, these diplomatic and economic efforts have limitations when it comes to offsetting U.S. hegemony.

“Beijing increasingly feels that diplomatic and economic actions are not enough to get its points across to Washington, so it is relying more on its military as a tool for signaling,” explains Brian Hart, a fellow with the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Partnering with Russia is a way to amplify Beijing’s messaging.”

For Washington, these joint military exercises raise significant concerns about the U.S. military’s ability to respond in a conflict scenario involving both China and Russia. Historically, American military planners have prepared for various contingencies involving China and Russia separately; however, the prospect of these two nuclear-armed nations collaborating in a conflict has not been a primary focus, largely due to the improbability of such an alliance.