OPINION / VIEWPOINT
Gulf military drills not for muscle flexing
Published: Jan 05, 2020 06:17 PM

A photo made available by Iran Saturday shows the Chinese destroyer Xining (117), Iranian frigate Alborz (72) and Russian frigate Yaroslav Mudry sailing in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman. Iran, China and Russia would have four days of joint drills, the commander of Iran’s flotilla announced on Friday. Photo: AFP

China, Russia and Iran held a joint naval exercise in the Gulf of Oman from December 27 to 30. The trilateral naval drill was not directed at any country. The aim of the war games is to improve the troops' joint ability to cope with common maritime threats, especially unconventional ones, such as pirates and terrorism, and the capability to maintain international trade security, regional peace and stability, and maritime security. 

Russia has its own strategic interests in the Middle East. The Soviet Union was a superpower with global stakes. With the increase in military and national power, Russia intends to reestablish its great power status and influence at the global stage, including the Middle East. This region can be regarded as a pivot for realizing the Kremlin's desire to restore Russia to its great power status.

China is a key importer of oil and natural gas and significant trade partner of Middle Eastern countries. This region supplies over 40 percent of China's oil imports and meets a chunk of its liquefied natural gas demand. In 2018, China's trade with Arab countries hit $244.3 billion, up from $15.2 billion in 2000. China is the second largest trading partner of the Arab League. 

The Gulf of Oman, where the trilateral navel exercise was carried out, is an important shipping channel for China's oil. To maintain security of the Middle East, especially maritime security, means safeguarding China's interests.

The Gulf of Oman connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz, which is part of the Persian Gulf. Its main significance is as a shipping lane for the oil-producing region around the Persian Gulf. Around one third of global crude oil supplies and nearly one fifth of natural gas pass through the waters. Global oil exporters and importers have a common interest in safeguarding its safety. Improving security of the area will secure not only China's interests in the region, but also the security of international trade.

China won't use proxy warfare in the Middle East or coerce countries in the region to choose sides. China's joint naval drill with Russia and Iran is not an attempt to seek its sphere of influence, pursue military expansion, or fight against other countries in the region. China is seeking amity with all Middle Eastern countries, engage in cooperation with them and contribute to regional security.

Joint war games have been common. Wu Qian, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said, "The joint exercise is a normal military exchange arrangement of the three countries… and has no connection with regional situation." But it has aroused widespread attention from Western media outlets and some even said it attempts to "flex muscle."

Western media outlets have repeatedly interpreted international affairs with a cold war mentality. In the National Security Strategy of the US issued in 2017, China and Russia are portrayed as strategic competitors, and Iran is labeled as a rogue state and a threat. Influenced by this mind-set, US media outlets claimed that the aim of the trilateral naval drills is to confront the US.

In fact, the war games among China, Russia and Iran are normal and natural. China has conducted several bilateral military exercises with Iran and Russia respectively. Chinese and US navies conducted anti-piracy exercises in three successive years from 2012 to 2014 near the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden.

The number of Chinese military exercises in the Middle East is far less than that of the US. Why don't Western media outlets say Washington is flexing muscle? It is inappropriate to apply double standards with regard to the trilateral exercise.

Dealing with threats from maritime terrorism and piracy and enhancing the security of international trade in the region are beneficial to all countries across the world. Unlike the US, China has never held war games targeting any other country. The international community needs to treat this exercise fairly, rather than interpreting it in a biased way.

The author is a research fellow at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn
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