China and Russia began their annual joint naval exercise, Joint Sea 2026, on July 6 in the waters and airspace near Qingdao, off China’s eastern coast. The drills will continue through July 13. Joint Sea is an annual naval exercise conducted by China and Russia since 2012.
China’s Ministry of National Defense says that the exercise is intended to strengthen strategic coordination between the two countries’ armed forces, enhance their ability to respond to shared security challenges, and contribute to regional peace and stability.
Official information indicates that the drills include air and missile defense, maritime reconnaissance, operations against surface targets, and coordinated naval operations. Upon completion of the exercise, some Chinese and Russian naval vessels will conduct joint patrols in designated areas of the Pacific Ocean.
According to Russian state media, Russia is participating with several vessels from its Pacific Fleet, including a guided missile cruiser, a corvette, a diesel-electric submarine, and a rescue ship. China’s Northern Theater Command stated that the Chinese contingent includes destroyers, a frigate, a submarine, a replenishment ship, and a rescue vessel.
On the same day, Taiwan’s National Security Bureau stated that the start of China’s annual military training season, which runs from July through September, has been accompanied by a significant increase in Chinese naval activity. The agency said it is closely monitoring both China’s military operations and the joint military activities conducted by China and Russia.
