Chinese and Russian naval forces are set to conduct military exercises in July in the waters and airspace of China, followed by a “joint naval patrol operation” in relevant areas of the Pacific Ocean, as reported by China’s Ministry of Defense on Sunday.
The “Joint Sea-2026” naval maneuvers will take place near Qingdao port in Shandong province, along the coast of the Yellow Sea. The Ministry of Defense’s statement did not specify the coordinates for the upcoming maritime patrols, which in 2025 extended to Guam, the Bering Strait, and waters near Hawaii.
According to official information, these exercises are part of an annual cooperation plan between the armed forces of the two nations, aimed at collectively responding to security challenges and maintaining regional peace and stability.
Contested Maritime Zones
This announcement follows a joint air patrol conducted by China and Russia at the end of June, which surveyed the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and the western Pacific Ocean. In response, South Korea and Japan deployed their own fighter jets to address any situation, with Tokyo expressing “deep concern” through diplomatic channels regarding the actions of Beijing and Moscow.
Additionally, these maneuvers coincide with the recent resumption of maritime patrols by China’s Coast Guard in eastern Taiwan waters, a control and inspection operation initiated in June that Taipei and several European countries view as a “threat” to regional stability and freedom of navigation.
China has a territorial dispute with Japan concerning the Diaoyu Islands (Senkaku) in the East China Sea, alongside its extensive claims over the South China Sea, through which approximately one-third of global maritime trade passes, leading to disputes with several Southeast Asian nations.
Qingdao port is situated far from the areas disputed with Tokyo and Manila, according to EFE.
Beijing and Moscow have been regularly conducting military exercises since the signing of a close strategic alliance at the beginning of 2022, just before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This partnership has strengthened since, with visits from President Xi Jinping to Russia and President Vladimir Putin to China.
