Russian President Vladimir Putin, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov attend a meeting with top military officials at the Defense Ministry in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 22, 2016. (photo by Sputnik/Kremlin/Alexei Nikolskyi)
Danila Galperovich, VOA: Analysts: Russia's Vostok '18 Troop Numbers, 'China Alliance' Claims Questionable
WASHINGTON — Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting his Chinese counterpart at an economic forum in the far eastern port city of Vladivostok today as armed forces from both countries descend on eastern Siberia to launch Moscow's largest-ever military drills.
Russia's week-long deployment alongside Chinese and Mongolian troops, known as "Vostok-2018" (East-2018), comes at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and the West over accusations of Russian interference in Western affairs and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: The Russian - Chinese military alliance is there, but not to the extent that both Putin and Xi are claiming. As for the 300,000 number, 1,000 warplanes, helicopters and drones, 36,000 armor vehicles, and 80 combat and support ships .... I am skeptical of those numbers. It is still a massive military exercise .... no doubt about it .... but my gut is telling me that the numbers are much smaller.