Chinese troops to take part in upcoming Russian military exercises

Chinese troops will take part in Russia’s Vostok-2022 military exercises along with soldiers from India, Belarus, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and other countries, China’s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday, August 17.

The country’s involvement is “unrelated to the current international and regional situation,” and is part of an ongoing bilateral agreement on joint exercises with Russia, the ministry added.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced plans to hold the Vostok-2022 exercises, the first major ones since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, back in July. The ministry reported that the exercises would include “military contingents from different countries.” The drills are set to begin on August 30.

Russia’s last Vostok military exercises were held in 2018, when Chinese troops participated for the first time.