Finding Out How Bad It Really Is Out East

Russia can pretend this is an exercise with China, but practically speaking it is a Russian exercise to see if they stand a chance of defending the Far East from China, short of using nukes--while China watches and takes notes.

Okay then:

Russia's military forces in the country's east were put on high alert Monday ahead of massive war games that also involve China and Mongolia, the largest show of power in nearly 40 years, the Russian defense minister said.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the five days of military drills will pave the way for the Vostok (East) 2018 military exercise. Shoigu said those maneuvers, set for next month, will be the largest since the massive Soviet war games in 1981.

If Russia had any sense they'd make up with NATO and watch their vulnerable Far East that one day soon might become a "core interest" of China that must be recovered for the glory of China.