MOSCOW: Russia and China have conducted their first-ever joint submarine patrol in the Asia-Pacific, Russian media reported, in what analysts say is a significant step in deepening military cooperation between the two countries.
The joint patrol, involving diesel-electric submarines, began in early August and followed large-scale naval exercises in the Sea of Japan, according to Russia’s Pacific Fleet, cited by Interfax and TASS news agencies.
Deepening cooperation
Russian diesel-electric submarine Volkhov joined a submarine from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy to patrol an agreed route in the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, according to a statement from the Russian Pacific Fleet. Both vessels returned to their home bases after the mission.
Russian state media reported that the exercise was part of an ongoing programme of bilateral drills that have steadily expanded in scope in recent years.
The Chinese side has yet to announce the joint submarine patrol as of press time, but has released information about the Joint Sea-2025 joint exercise and a following joint maritime patrol in the Western Pacific.
Significance of submarine patrols
Military analysts view the operation as a step beyond previous Russia–China joint patrols, which had been limited to surface ships. The inclusion of submarines represents a “new stage” of coordination, according to experts.
Zhang Junshe, a Chinese naval analyst quoted by the Global Times, said the mission reflected a “high level of strategic mutual trust” between the two countries.
He said that submarine coordination requires both advanced technical capabilities and deeper operational exchanges.
Submarines, with their stealth and deterrence potential, also underscore the two navies’ ability to operate jointly beneath the surface.
Strategic context
The joint submarine patrol followed a Chinese submarine’s first-ever deployment to Russian waters during earlier bilateral drills, which included simulated submarine rescue operations.
Russian officials, cited by Newsweek, highlighted the submarine patrol as proof of the two navies’ ability to cooperate under complex conditions.
Both countries have steadily strengthened military ties in recent years, with analysts often describing their relationship as a quasi-alliance aimed at counterbalancing the United States and its partners in the region.
After completing joint air defence, joint naval warfare, joint anti-submarine and anchorage defence in waters near Russia’s Vladivostok, the Chinese and Russian participating the Joint Sea-2025 joint exercise proceeded to a joint maritime patrol on August 6, China Central Television (CCTV) reported at the time.
The joint maritime patrol was wrapped up on August 20 in the Western Pacific, CCTV reported separately.
When announcing the China-Russia Exercise Joint Sea 2025 and the joint maritime patrol at a regular press conference on July 30, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson at China’s Ministry of National Defence, said that it is an arrangement within the annual cooperation plan of the Chinese and Russian militaries, not targeting any third party, and unrelated to the current international and regional situation.
