Russia said on Wednesday that its partnership with China was not aimed against third countries but the two powers could "combine potential" if faced with a threat from the United States.
"I would like to remind you that Moscow and Beijing will respond to 'double containment' by the United States with 'double counteraction'," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said when asked about a possible deployment of U.S. missiles in Japan.
The Japan Times reported on Sept 7 that the United States had expressed an interest in deploying a Typhon mid-range missile system to Japan for joint military exercises.
"It is clear that both Russia and China will react to the emergence of additional and very significant missile threats, and their reaction will be far from being political, which has also been repeatedly confirmed by the two countries," Zakharova told reporters at her weekly briefing.
She said Russia and China had a strategic partnership that was not aggressive in its intent.
"Our relations are not directed against third countries... and double counteraction does not contradict this. This is a defensive position, this is not an initiative to target other countries," Zakharova said in answer to a question from Reuters.
"But if an aggressive policy of attack is being implemented against us from one centre, why don't we combine our potential and give an appropriate rebuff?"
Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping signed a "no limits" partnership deal in 2022, less than three weeks before Putin sent his troops into Ukraine. In May this year they agreed to deepen what they called their "comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation" for a new era.
The two countries have not declared a formal military alliance, although Putin last week described them as "allies in every sense of the word".
Russia and China have staged military exercises together, including naval drills that started on Tuesday. Putin, overseeing the launch of the maneuvers, warned the United States against attempts to outgun Russia by building up its military power in the Asia-Pacific region.
© Thomson Reuters 2024.
16 Comments
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TaiwanIsNotChina
Yes I think China would be quite happy with certain eastern parts of Russia combining with China.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Note that this statement comes from the subordinate partner in the relationship.
John
Combined they might have enough karts for 2 T-72s!
lol.
JJE
Moscow and Beijing face a common threat - the most aggressive, violent racketeering cartel in history AKA NATO.
Many independent countries face this mob.
They are looking for their next victim/proxy.
stormcrow
Russia and China, the Bandit Nations, are both partners in crime as they try to gobble up their neighbors’ lands.
lincolnman
Well, that's not really new news....since Putin's debacle invasion of Ukraine, with Putin surrendering Russian sovereignty to China for support, Russia is now a junior vassal of the greater Sino-sphere...
JJE
Repossession is a capitalistic term. Who says otherwise?
If the rent is not paid, or the terms of lease are broken, the county sherif has a court ordered mandate to step in.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Russia is the criminals that murder and rape a family, not the sheriff of anything.
Yrral
She just blowing smoke out her butt,China will do nothing to jeopardize their 100 of billion of trade with the US
RichardPearce
The chest thumpers of the White Bloc insist that there's no way that China and Russia could trust each other, and no way they could match the military might of the White Bloc...while simultaneously insisting that China must be propping up Russia's military that is so obviously, in their minds, losing to the White Bloc backed Azovians (even though, to turn a phrase on its head Russia is 'retreating in a retrograde fashion)
Who'd have thought that chest thumping inflicts the same sort of damage as slamming your head against a brick wall over and over?
TaiwanIsNotChina
Russia can't and doesn't but it is a desperate little kitten.
JJE
Why demand a ceasefire with a "desperate little kitten"?
Eastmann
Russia will prevail at Ukraine since UA have zero chance to win.
even latest NATO investment will change...nothing.
burgers and beers
Combined they might have enough karts for 2 T-72s! lol.
Judging by the recent developments those would still be enough to keep NATO game changers in check.
Dr.Cajetan Coelho
The weak ones issue threats and counter-threats. In doing so they waste precious energy and become weaker. The strong ones keep silent, till the ground, grow food and flowers honoring Planet Earth and her bounty.
Primusinter
I do not know, I do not understand what you are making such a conclusion about. But I would really like you to name at least one such "strong" one who is silent with such dignity growing "food and flowers"....I'm afraid that it can only be someone who is at gunpoint of western sanctions:)))) Drowning in verbiage