Post by : Badri Ariffin

China and Russia will conduct their annual joint naval exercises in the waters and airspace off China's eastern coast this week, further demonstrating military cooperation between the two countries. According to a statement issued by the Chinese Ministry of Defence on Sunday, the exercises will take place near the major port city of Qingdao and will involve a range of naval and aerial operations. Following the completion of the drills, both countries will carry out joint maritime patrols in unspecified areas of the Pacific Ocean. The exercise is part of a long-running programme of military cooperation that has seen the two nations regularly train together at sea over the past decade.

Russian and Chinese Naval Forces Gather for the Drills

Preparations for the exercise are already underway, with Russian state media reporting that several vessels from Russia’s Pacific Fleet have arrived in Qingdao ahead of the start of operations. Russia's participating force includes a cruiser, a corvette, a diesel-electric submarine and a rescue vessel, reflecting a broad mix of naval capabilities. On the Chinese side, the Northern Theatre Command confirmed that it will deploy two destroyers, a frigate, a submarine, a supply ship and a rescue vessel. The combined deployment highlights the scale of the exercise and the continued military coordination between the two neighbouring powers as they prepare to conduct operations in both maritime and aerial environments.

Exercise to Include Reconnaissance and Defence Operations

The joint drills are scheduled to run from Monday through July 13 and will feature a variety of military training activities designed to improve operational coordination between the two navies. According to Chinese military officials, participating forces will carry out reconnaissance missions, air and missile defence exercises, and surface-strike operations. These activities are intended to test communication, coordination and response capabilities while allowing both navies to train together in realistic scenarios. The exercises will take place in waters and airspace near Qingdao before transitioning into joint maritime patrols in the Pacific Ocean after the formal training programme concludes.

Military Cooperation Follows Recent Leadership Talks

The naval manoeuvres come roughly two months after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited China and held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the visit, both leaders highlighted the strength of bilateral relations and emphasized continued cooperation between their countries. Putin described the relationship between Russia and China as having reached an “unprecedentedly high level,” while Xi referred to the partnership as “unyielding.” The upcoming naval exercise is taking place against the backdrop of these high-level diplomatic exchanges and reflects the ongoing strategic relationship between the two countries in both political and military spheres.

Joint Sea Exercises Continue Long-Standing Partnership

China and Russia have been conducting Joint Sea exercises on a regular basis since 2012, making the programme one of the most visible examples of military cooperation between the two nations. The exercises have been held in different locations over the years and have included a range of naval training activities. Last year's edition was conducted near the Russian port city of Vladivostok and was also followed by joint patrols in the Pacific Ocean. The continuation of these annual drills underscores the long-term nature of defence cooperation between Beijing and Moscow and their commitment to maintaining regular military engagement through combined training operations.

China's Position on the Ukraine Conflict

China has consistently maintained that it is a neutral party in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and has repeatedly called for peace talks aimed at ending the war. Beijing has never publicly denounced Russia’s full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, a position that has attracted international attention throughout the conflict. While continuing its diplomatic and economic relationship with Moscow, China has stated on multiple occasions that it supports efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution through dialogue and negotiations. The latest joint naval exercises with Russia come as the two countries continue to strengthen cooperation across a range of areas, including defence, trade and diplomacy.

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