AFP

 Chinese troops will go to Russia to participate in joint military exercises, the Ministry of Defense in Beijing announced. Beijing and Moscow have close defense ties. China has said it wants to push bilateral ties "to a higher level" at a time when Moscow faces international sanctions and widespread condemnation over its war in Ukraine. China's Defense Ministry said Wednesday that its participation in the annual "Vostok" exercises - which Moscow said will take place between August 30 and September 5 - comes within the framework of a bilateral cooperation agreement with Russia. "The goal is to deepen practical and friendly cooperation with the armies of the participating countries, enhance the level of strategic cooperation between the participating parties, and strengthen the ability to respond to various security threats," the ministry added in a statement. She explained that India, Belarus, Mongolia, Tajikistan and other countries will also participate in the exercises. China and India are accused of providing diplomatic cover for Russia during its months-long war in Ukraine by opposing Western sanctions and arms sales to Kyiv. But Beijing stressed that its participation in the exercises "has nothing to do with the current international and regional situation." This is the second joint military exercise conducted by Chinese and Russian forces this year. Bombers of the two countries conducted a 13-hour exercise near Japan and South Korea in May, forcing those countries to send fighter jets, while US President Joe Biden was visiting Tokyo. US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that while warming relations between China and Russia undermine global security, Washington "has no special explanation" for the exercises. "Most of the participating countries routinely participate in a wide range of military exercises and exercises with the United States as well," he added in a press conference.