Russia and China launch naval drills to bolster regional security

A Russian cruiser, corvette, diesel-electric submarine and rescue vessel joined Joint Sea-2026 in waters and airspace near Qingdao. The exercise began July 6 and is scheduled to run through July 13 in the Yellow Sea.

The Russian Pacific Fleet sent the missile cruiser Varyag and the large submarine Ufa. Chinese and Russian forces planned search-and-rescue work, anti-submarine warfare, air-defense missions, reconnaissance, artillery exercises and live-fire training.

Russian Rear Admiral Sergei Sinko said the exercise would deepen naval cooperation and was not aimed at any third country. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said governments in the Asia-Pacific had no reason to see the drills as provocative, and argued that the partnership brings predictability and security to the region.

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense said the annual exercise was intended to address security challenges and maintain regional peace and stability. The Chinese Ministry of National Defense said some forces from both sides would move on to joint maritime patrols in relevant areas of the Pacific Ocean after the exercise ends.

On June 27, Chinese and Russian forces carried out a joint strategic air patrol over the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea and the western Pacific, an operation that drew interceptor responses from the United States, Japan and South Korea. Russian ships docked in Qingdao before the naval exercise.