China-Russia joint Arctic patrol conducive to future waterway management: scholar

The recent China-Russia joint coast guard patrol in the Arctic Ocean for the first time is an important exploration for China to contribute to the future management of Arctic waterways, according to marine policy scholars.

China Coast Guard (CCG) announced Thursday that a formation of its vessels has completed joint drills and patrol missions with Russia's coast guard. CCG vessels Meishan and Xiushan departed on Sept 13 from Zhoushan in east China's Zhejiang Province and returned on Thursday after a journey of 35 days.

Yang Xiao, a marine affairs expert of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, told China Central Television (CCTV) that Meishan and Xiushan are both of the 3,000-ton class patrol vessels, which are commonly used in international coast guard practices of on-site maritime law enforcement and extended periods of law enforcement presence. He further stressed that such ships play an important role in mid- and long-distance cruises for maritime rights protection.

Experts say the joint patrol which took CCG vessels to the Arctic not only effectively expanded the sailing range of China Coast Guard, but also comprehensively tested the ability of its ships to perform tasks in unfamiliar waters.

"This time we conducted joint patrols with Russia in the Arctic Ocean, on the Arctic waterways. I think this is a breakthrough at sea. The water conditions in this area are quite special. With China being an observer of the Arctic Council and Russia being an Arctic state, the joint patrol between the two countries is also a very important exploration regarding the management of the Arctic waterways, which has great potential in the future," said Chen Xiangmiao, researcher at the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance.

China-Russia joint Arctic patrol conducive to future waterway management: scholar

Russia has been subjected to targeted isolation by the West, with demands that other countries cut all ties with Moscow, including trade and diplomatic relations, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in an online press briefing in Moscow on Thursday.

Lavrov made the remarks when answering inquiries from a reporter of China Media Group (CMG), stressing that the West has resorted to threats, sanctions, and punishment, making demands on other countries to sacrifice their own interests and buy energy at higher prices under the guise of "punishing" Russia.

"The West has decided to completely isolate Russia in all fields and even made ridiculous demands on other countries that they should not contact Russian representatives, receive Russian visitors, visit Russia or trade with Russia. It even demanded other countries to sacrifice their own interests and buy energy at higher prices. This is the so-called Western foreign policy, which is basically threats, sanctions, and punishment. Josep Borrell, the recently retired High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union (EU) said despite the West trying to isolate Russia, it did not succeed," said Lavrov.

Russia has been experiencing rounds of Western sanctions since February 2022, when the Russia-Ukraine conflict started. On Dec 16 the Council of the European Union adopted the 15th package of sanctions against Russia, focusing on Russia's so-called shadow fleet and anti-circumvention measures.

Russian FM criticizes Western foreign policy tactics of "threats, sanctions, punishment"