Fleets from China and Russia, taking part in a nine-day "Joint Sea-2015 (Ⅱ)" naval drill, leave the Vladivostok port for the assembly area on Aug 23, 2015. [Photo/www.81.cn]

The first-ever joint drill on computer-aided missile defense between China and Russia are scheduled to be held this month. The exercises will simulate missile attacks on the two countries and joint counterattacks.

The joint drill marks an initial exploration of anti-missile cooperation by Beijing and Moscow, but its significance is by no means confined to the symbolic level.

Given that anti-missile systems are closely related to a country's strategic security and core interests and that air defense and anti-missile interceptions involve the use of the most advanced technologies, information in this area is usually only shared among allies. Without mutual trust, it would be very difficult for two countries to be fully open with each other about their missile defense systems.

As the first joint exercise of its kind by China and Russia, they will need to acquire from each other the most confidential data and parameters about their respective defenses, and mutually reveal their long-distance early warning systems. The fact that they are willing to join hands is undoubtedly a sign of the mutual trust that exists between the two militaries.

Given that Russia has a more advanced early-warning system and has better shore-based interception capabilities, while China holds an edge in sea-based missile interception, to hold a computer simulation of a missile threat is a win-win choice made by the two countries on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit.

For China, which has no anti-missile experiences, to learn from Russia in this area is particularly valuable.

Despite its multiple meanings, the joint exercise, however, is only a computer-based simulation and the two countries still have a long way to go before conducting real anti-missile cooperation.

-Beijing News