The China-Russia joint military drill in the Sea of Japan started today. A total of 25 warships, 15 fixed-wing aircrafts, eight helicopters as well as 400 marines will take part in the combined operations. Focusing on the joint protection of naval communications and joint beach landings, this is the first time the two navies have staged a joint drill in the Sea of Japan, and the first time the Chinese navy has held an exercise in this area.

Over the past few years, worldwide joint military exercises have become more frequent. It generally reflects signs of active military diplomacy. However, in the Asia-Pacific, the voices of certain subtle implication and interpretation are getting louder. Speculation about who is teaming up with whom, and who they are against, is making quite a few analysts bubble over with excitement.

Is a complicated political game being played in the Asia-Pacific region?

China and Russia have declared that the drill is not targeted at any third party.

Among all the countries in the region, China is probably the most enthusiastic in doing so.

Given that the US-Japan alliance is overt, and both nations are no longer concerned about covering up their aggressive, well-directed joint military drills, a growing number of interpretations have emerged, arguing that the Sino-Russian joint exercises are in diametric opposition to it.

China and Russia do not share the same closeness as in the relationship between US and Japan. Beijing and Moscow are not allies, nor do they have the willingness to form an alliance in the traditional sense. The navies of China and Russia are independent of each other, unlike the Washington-Tokyo alliance, which is dominated by the US.

China and the US are maintaining a barely satisfactory major power relationship, although there is still a lot of cooperation. The ties between Russia and the US are also far from breaking up like during the Cold War. Washington and Tokyo are both calculating with their alliance, while another ally of the US, South Korea, is hoping to be more neutral in the international arena.

The military and political situation in East Asia is still a blur. Some worry that the enhanced US presence in the Asia-Pacific has piled pressure on both Beijing and Moscow. It is undeniable that the biggest motivating factor that makes China and Russia continue to come closer militarily is the performance of the US-Japan alliance.

Both China and Russia are powerful nations; the current closeness can provide support to maintain the balance in the Asia-Pacific. If the two sides are to forge an alliance, the global strategic outlook will be completely changed. The US and Japan will come under huge pressure, but the comprehensive diplomacy of both Beijing and Moscow will also be damaged.

China and Russia are rationally controlling their bilateral ties at a proper level. The US and Japan should have the same intellect.

China is opposed to military confrontation against any country, because antagonism in the 21st century will lead to a tragic ending and major destruction. China's sincerity is much higher than that of the US and Japan.