maritime awareness project ANALYSIS JAMES D.J. BROWN is an Associate Professor at Temple University’s Japan Campus in Tokyo. China-Russia Naval Cooperation in East Asia: Implications for Japan James D.J. Brown March 26, 2019 During the evening of June 8, 2016, three Russian naval vessels, including a destroyer, entered the contiguous zone around the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. Shortly aferward, a Chinese frigate also entered the area and proceeded toward the Russian ships, as if intending to meet with them. Tis represented the frst instance of a Chinese military vessel entering the contiguous zone around the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands, which are claimed by China as the Diaoyu Islands. Just as worrying, it appeared to show that Russia, which ofcially remains neutral with regard to the territorial dispute, had begun to coordinate its actions with China. Tis incident drew attention to the expanding scale of China-Russia naval activities within East Asia. Te centerpiece of this cooperation is Joint Sea, a series of bilateral drills that have been held annually since 2012, including in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea. Joint Sea 2017 took place in the Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk, with the main focus on submarine rescue and antisubmarine warfare. 1 According to material provided to the author by the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Joint Sea exercises “are organized on the basis of the principles of relations 1 “Vuchenii ‘Morskoye vzaimodeystviye–2017’ budet zadeystvovano 11 korabley VMF Rossii i VMS Kitaya” [11 Ships from the Russian and Chinese Navies to Cooperate in “Joint Sea 2017” Exercises], Ministry of Defense (Russia), September 17, 2017, https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more. htm?id=12142569@egNews. of strategic partnership between Russia and the People’s Republic of China.” Teir overall aim “is to increase mutual trust and understanding between the feets of the two countries in the interests of the peaceful use of the oceans and to jointly counter threats to maritime security at sea.” Te Russian ministry’s document also specifes that the annual exercises have each included 10 to 25 ships of various classes as well as planes, helicopters, and personnel and equipment from the countries’ marine corps. Each exercise is overseen by a joint command headquarters, which alternates between Russian and Chinese territory. More specifcally, the exercises have concentrated on improving interoperability by addressing questions about the organization of communications, as well as by conducting drills in the areas of anti-aircraf and antisubmarine defense, the convoying of ships, search and rescue training, and the freeing of pirated ships. To what extent does this increased China-Russia naval cooperation pose a threat to Japan? Additionally, what has been Japan’s response? Tis essay addresses these questions and considers the implications for regional stability.