Navy forces from Russia and China to undertake joint maritime patrols
Russia and China Strengthen Military Cooperation in Joint Naval Exercises
Russia and China have been significantly expanding their military cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region through joint naval exercises and maritime patrols. The latest demonstration of this partnership was the Maritime Interaction 2025 naval drill held in the Sea of Japan/East Sea, which took place from August 1 to 5.
During these exercises, the two naval forces practiced artillery fire, anti-submarine warfare, air defense, and improved joint search and rescue operations at sea. The flagship vessels were Russia’s Udaloy-class destroyer Admiral Tributs and China’s Type 052D destroyer Shaoxing.
The joint maneuver in the Sea of Japan seemed to have pleased both Beijing and Moscow. In a statement, the Chinese Ministry of Defense described the relationship with Russia as a "comprehensive strategic partnership." The Russian Pacific Fleet stated that the exercises were defensive in nature and not directed against any other countries.
Following the exercises, Russian and Chinese naval ships have conducted joint patrols in the Asian Pacific region. A new working group will be formed by the crews of the Russian and Chinese navies to carry out joint patrol missions in the region. Interfax reported the formation of this working group, citing a statement from the press service of the Russian Pacific Fleet.
This expanding military partnership between Russia and China is not limited to the Sea of Japan. China and Russia hold annual exercises and have conducted at least 113 joint military exercises since 2003, with over half occurring since 2019. These activities underscore a strategic partnership aimed at signaling unity despite geopolitical tensions with the United States and its allies.
Joint exercises sometimes include adjacent countries and multilateral formats, advancing China’s peripheral diplomacy to assure allies about regional security threats. Beyond purely military goals, such cooperation helps project combined strength and deterrence in a region marked by US-China tensions, territorial disputes, and intensifying rivalry.
In summary, Russia and China’s joint patrols and naval exercises in the Asia-Pacific, especially recent engagements near Japan and in the Sea of Japan, represent a deliberate and expanding military partnership focused on interoperability in various maritime domains and strategic messaging to regional and global actors.
- The economic and monetary union between Russia and China might be further strengthened as a result of their increasing military cooperation and joint patrols in the Asian Pacific region.
- Amidst ongoing war-and-conflicts and general-news headlines, the politics surrounding the economic and monetary union between Russia and China remain significant, with frequent joint military exercises serving as a strategic symbol of their unity.
