China and Russia performed joint military exercises in the Mediterranean Sea in May 2015. This collaborative act shows the relations between the two countries have become increasingly closer./ Source from China's People's Daily

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By Hong Soon-do, Beijing correspondent, AsiaToday - Recently, relations between China and Russia have grown increasingly closer and deepened strategically. Some even forecast that they will become "blood allies" if they continue to come closer.

This outlook is not an exaggeration considering the largest-ever joint naval drills launched by China and Russia on Thursday. The drills, code-named 'Joint Sea 2015 II', will run through Aug. 28 in the northern part of the East Sea, the body of water between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Analysts said the exercises are aimed to strengthen the alliance between the two countries and are targeted at their virtual enemies, the United States and Japan. Back in May, there was a military parade in Moscow marking the end of World War II followed by the 'Joint Sea 2015 I' in the Mediterranean Sea. Their intimacy seems to be clearly an unprecedented one.

The relation between the two countries will be getting more intimate. Huanqiu Shibao, a sister newspaper of China's People's Daily, reported on Thursday that Russia and China will hold a naval exercise in the South China Sea next year. The purpose is quite clear. It is to contain the United States and Japan, who are quietly supporting Southeast Asian countries over the ongoing territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

The traditional Cold War rivals China and Russia are not just getting closer politically and militarily. They are expanding cooperation in such areas as investment, finance, infrastructure, energy, space, aviation, and more. The China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is actively supported by Russia. Besides, the two countries agreed to connect China's construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt following Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow in May.

The intimacy between the two countries is likely to have a positive influence on North Korea, since the three countries share borders and the recent relations between North Korea and Russia have significantly improved. Perhaps, it's not an exaggeration to say that China and Russia's tight friendship will greatly help boost regional economy, while strengthening U.S-Japan alliance at the same time.