Strategic Strengthening: China and Russia's Anti-Missile Drills

China and Russia conducted their third joint anti-missile drills in early December on Russian soil. These exercises, not aimed at any particular nation, are part of a broader strategic partnership and follow talks on missile defense amid concerns over U.S. military strategies.

In a show of military cooperation, China and Russia have completed their third round of joint anti-missile drills, held on Russian territory earlier this month. The exercises, which took place in December, were announced by China's defense ministry and were emphasized as not targeting any specific third-party nations.

The drills occurred amidst ongoing discussions about strategic stability and missile defense between the two countries. In August, the cooperation was further demonstrated through artillery and anti-submarine maneuvers in the Sea of Japan, highlighting the depth of the military relationship formed under a 'no-limits' strategic partnership agreed upon shortly before Russia's 2022 incursion into Ukraine.

The partnership also feeds into shared concerns over U.S. defense strategies, including then-President Donald Trump's plan for a comprehensive missile shield and speculative resumption of nuclear tests. Amid these developments, China and Russia appear committed to a synchronized military strategy.