China and Russia began joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan as they seek to reinforce their partnership and balance what they see as a US-led global order.

Lin Ying-yu (林穎佑), an associate professor in Tamkang University’s Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies, said the drills were not solely a response to this month’s US arms sales to Taiwan,

China’s military mobilized army, navy, air and rocket units around Taiwan for two days of military drills aimed at sending a “serious warning” against any push for Taiwanese independence and “external” forces interfering with the island.