China and Russia will hold their yearly naval exercises this month. After the training, their ships will patrol parts of the Pacific Ocean together, according to China’s defence ministry.
The operation, named “Joint Sea-2026”, will take place in the sea and air around Qingdao, a major military port city in eastern China. When the main exercises finish, ships from both countries will sail together through the Pacific.
Chinese officials stated that these drills aim to handle new security threats and keep the region peaceful. However, they did not say exactly how many troops or ships will take part.
China and Russia share strong business and political ties, brought closer by their shared opposition to a world order led by Western countries. Their militaries have been working together more often. They have held the “Joint Sea” exercises every year since 2012. Last year’s event took place near Vladivostok in eastern Russia, which also ended with joint Pacific patrols.
Western countries are watching this growing friendship with concern, especially because of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
These military drills come just weeks after Vladimir Putin visited Beijing. During that meeting, the Russian leader said their relationship was stronger than ever, while Chinese President Xi Jinping called their partnership “unyielding."
China says it is neutral in the Ukraine war and often calls for peace talks, but it has never condemned the 2022 invasion by Russia. At the same time, many Western allies, including the United States, believe China might be quietly helping Russia’s war effort through trade and supplies.
