U.S. Indo-Pacific commander cautious of escalation of China-Russia navy ties: ‘Very concerned’

TOKYO — The head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command mentioned Monday he’s “very concerned” about elevated joint navy actions by China and Russia within the area.

Adm. John C. Aquilino spoke in Tokyo as one other regional concern, North Korea, performed its newest intercontinental ballistic missile take a look at, underscoring the development of its capabilities.

Aquilino is assembly with Japanese protection officers forward of a joint train, Keen Edge 24, early subsequent 12 months.

He urged China to cease escalating maritime confrontations with its neighbors, and mentioned its rising navy exercise with Russia is a critical concern throughout Moscow’s battle in Ukraine.

“I view it as far beyond the marriage of convenience at this point in time” he mentioned. “If you tied DPRK (North Korea) into that, the Russia-DPRK cooperation, and the fact that the only partner of the DPRK prior to that was (China), that’s just a bad neighborhood and bad group to be in,” Aquilino mentioned.

North Korea has been pushing to develop cooperation with Russia and China. There have been issues that the North has equipped missiles and different ammunition to Russia to assist its battle in Ukraine, in alternate for acquiring Russian missile expertise.

Chinese and Russian bombers had a joint flight final week over the East China Sea to the waters between Japan and the Korean Peninsula, inflicting Japanese fighter jets to scramble in opposition to them, in accordance with Japan’s Defense Ministry.

Japan has territorial disputes with China over the Japanese-controlled East China Sea islands which Beijing additionally claims. It considers China a menace to nationwide safety and is within the technique of a speedy navy buildup.

Japan is especially involved about China‘s increased joint activity with Russia’s navy across the Japanese coast.

China has rising tensions with different neighbors.

Standoffs between China and the Philippines over a variety of disputed offshore areas within the South China Sea have escalated this 12 months. The United States has warned China that it’s obligated to defend the Philippines, its treaty ally, if Filipino forces come beneath assault. China has warned the U.S. to keep away from what it calls a purely Asian dispute.

China additionally activated sonar in waters the place an Australian ship had divers working.

But China‘s flight and maritime close encounters with U.S. warplanes and ships have stopped since U.S. President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping agreed in November to stabilize their relationship and re-establish navy communication.

But Aquilino‘s requested talks together with his Chinese counterpart have been pending for 3 years, and he’s ready for China to reply to his renewed request.

“No reply yet,” he mentioned, apart from the Chinese embassy saying they must work out the expertise to arrange the decision.