Key facts
- A Chinese military inspection team visited facilities in Russia's Eastern Military District.
- The inspection included an air defence missile unit in the Jewish Autonomous Region.
- The visit occurred under a decades-old confidence-building mechanism.
- President Vladimir Putin called China and Russia "natural allies and partners."
- Putin stated that deepening military cooperation is not directed against any third party.
A team from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted an inspection of several military facilities within Russia's Eastern Military District this week. The visit, which took place on June 2-3, included a stop at an air defence missile unit located in the far-eastern Jewish Autonomous Region. This inspection is part of a confidence-building mechanism that has been in place for decades between the two nations.
Concurrently, Russian President Vladimir Putin characterized the relationship between China and Russia as one of "natural allies and partners." He further emphasized that the ongoing expansion of their military cooperation is not intended to target or threaten any other country.