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US downplays concerns over Russia-China exercises amid Ukraine war
"These are joint exercises that involve a number of countries well beyond Russia and China...I'll also note that most of the participating countries also routinely participate in a wide array of military exercises and exchanges with the United States as well," State Department spokesman Ned Price told a press conference.
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US State Department spokesman Ned Price speaks at his first daily press briefing at the State Department in Washington, DC, on February 2, 2021.
(Agence France Presse/Nicholas Kamm )
T
he United States on Wednesday played down concerns that planned military exercises involving Russia, China, India and other countries will undermine US efforts to isolate Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
"These are joint exercises that involve a number of countries well beyond Russia and China...I'll also note that most of the participating countries also routinely participate in a wide array of military exercises and exchanges with the United States as well," State Department spokesman Ned Price told a press conference.
"So we don't read anything into their engagements in this activity," he added.
Price's remarks came after Beijing said Wednesday that the Chinese People's Liberation Army will send some troops to Russia to take part in the "Vostok" exercises, slated for Aug. 30 through Sept. 5 in its eastern military district.
Countries including India, Belarus, Tajikistan and Mongolia will also send troops for the exercises, the Chinese Defense Ministry said, adding that China's participation is "unrelated to the current international and regional situation."
While the United States has been emphasizing the need to impose costs on Russia for its aggression against Ukraine, India has showed reluctance to explicitly condemn Moscow over the war, apparently due to its long history of close military ties with Russia.
The stance of the South Asian country has stood out among its peers of the Quad group -- the United States, Japan and Australia -- all of which have imposed sanctions on Moscow.
Price said the United States recognizes that there are countries that have "long-standing relationships, including security relationships with countries like Russia" and that reorienting a country's foreign policy or defense procurement practices away from Moscow is not something that can be done "overnight."
"We do see this as a long-term challenge," he added.
The official also said, more broadly speaking, the "burgeoning" relationship between China and Russia remains a concern for the United States because the vision they are pursuing is at odds with the "liberal order."
But he maintained that the United States has not yet found China to be moving toward helping Russia systemically evade sanctions imposed by the West or providing military equipment to Moscow for its war effort.
