«Данное сообщение (материал) создано и (или) распространено иностранным средством массовой информации, выполняющим функции иностранного агента, и (или) российским юридическим лицом, выполняющим функции иностранного агента»
Topic: Diplomacy, and Naval Warfare Blog Brand: The Buzz Region: Eurasia Tags: China, Great Power Competition, Missiles, People’s Liberation Army Navy, and Russia A Russian Military Blogger Just Insulted China’s Navy. Why Does It Matter? December 11, 2025 By: Brandon J. Weichert
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China’s furious response to a Russian military blogger insulting its new assault ship highlights insecurities among Chinese naval planners—and broader unease about the Sino-Russian relationship.
We have been told that the budding “bromance” between China’s President Xi Jinping and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin represents a “friendship with no limits.” Indeed, the two Eurasian juggernauts are moving so closely together that they’re even conducting joint missile drills—a clear signal of hostility toward Washington, their mutual adversary.
Yet, if this relationship is as close as we are led to believe, why are prominent Russian military bloggers openly calling for the sinking of China’s new Type 076 Sichuan amphibious assault ship with Russian Kh-31A anti-ship missiles?
Russia and China Are Beating Their Chests at One Another
As the Type 076 was spotted undergoing sea trials near Shanghai, a group of Russian sailors visiting the iconic Chinese city took photos of the Type 076 while it was in the bay. Those photos were shared across the Russian social media platform known as Telegram by a popular Russian blogger known as Ilya Tumanov (but who blogs under the pseudonym “Fighterbomber”). Somewhat problematically for the Sino-Russian relationship, the pictures were accompanied with the comment, “I wonder how many Kh-31As would be needed to sink it?”
This post by Tumanov, who is believed to be an active duty servicemember of the Russian Aerospace Forces, was met with fury on Chinese social platforms after that post was widely distributed across those networks. The controversy has led to many calls for Tumanov, as well as the Russian sailors who snapped the initial photo of the Type 076, to be banned from entering China. Several other prominent Chinese posters have demanded that the Russian Ministry of Defense issue a formal apology to the Chinese government in response to the original post on Telegram.
The whole thing seems to be a bit blown out of proportion. So a blogger posted an inflammatory statement on social media—so what?
The real reason that so many in China have taken umbrage with the post is that it reveals a secret fear—and deeper divide—in the minds of many Chinese elites. Can the Chinese really trust the Russians? What’s more, how reliable is China’s massive, but untested, fleet of new warships?
China’s Navy Might Not Be Ready for Showtime
In a recent interview, former Soviet naval officer Andrei Martyanov highlighted the fact that China’s navy might not be all that it is cracked up to be.
Martyanov agrees that China is the most proficient shipbuilding nation in the world right now.
What he finds difficult to believe is that this nation, which has historically not been a dominant naval power, can maintain and operate these large numbers of new warships and submarines at the same level that more proficient navies, like the United States and even the Russian Federation, can maintain and operate.
Martyanov might have a point. After all, size is very helpful in overwhelming a smaller enemy force. But being proficient sailors in combat and having the experience to effectively wage a war at sea—even under the most fortuitous conditions—against a navy that is more experienced and technically capable, even if that force is numerically inferior, is another matter entirely.
Herein lies the technological fears that abound in the minds of China’s military planners. The Russian military blogger, Tumanov, merely highlighted it for the world to see.
Moreover, the fact that a respected and highly-placed member of the Russian Aerospace Forces could make such a provocative comment without any punishment likely feeds into Beijing’s paranoia that Tumanov was posting on behalf of the Russian hierarchy.
And the fact that the post was aimed at China’s new amphibious landing craft was especially galling to Beijing. After all, the Type 076 will be essential for any potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan and its outlying Kinmen, Matsu, and Penghu islands.
The last thing China wants is for there to be any doubt about their amphibious landing capacity—especially as the world circles closer to an actual war between China and its Taiwanese neighbors.
China’s leaders are probably thinking of the Russian social media post undercutting their amphibious capabilities, “With friends like these, who needs enemies?”
Moscow has no qualms with using China as a diplomatic, economic, and military conduit to evade Western sanctions and to buttress against what it perceives to be Western aggression to its west. At the same time, though, the Kremlin is not going to let the Chinese think they’re Eurasia’s heir apparent without at least some snide commentary in the background.
So, for the Russians to throw shade at the new Chinese warship by indicating their Kh-31A anti-ship ballistic missiles can sink it is highly unnerving for Beijing. It’s insulting, too, considering how much Beijing has done to support Moscow’s economy since the Europeans and Americans imposed their onerous sanctions upon Russia.
More importantly, though, it is a sign that neither the Russians nor the Chinese are as wedded to each other—yet—as some are saying. And it highlights how uneasy about their naval capabilities that the Chinese really are.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. Weichert hosts a companion book talk series on Rumble entitled “National Security Talk.” He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, and the Asia Times. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Photo Agency.
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Источник: nationalinterest.org