BEIJING: The Chinese and Russian navies will conduct joint military exercises in the waters and airspace near the Chinese city of Qingdao next week, China’s Ministry of Defence announced on Sunday.
“Following the exercises, some of the forces from both sides will proceed to relevant areas of the Pacific Ocean to carry out joint maritime patrols,” it said in a statement.
The exercises, held annually, are intended to strengthen cooperation in addressing shared security challenges and to help maintain regional peace and stability, the ministry said.
Chinese and Russian navies will conduct Exercise Joint Sea 2026 in the waters and airspace near Qingdao City, Shandong Province in July. Following the joint exercise, some of the participating forces from both sides will proceed to the relevant waters of the Pacific Ocean for a… pic.twitter.com/lCAas6usD0
— Ministry of National Defense of China (@MND_China) July 5, 2026
Russia’s state-run RIA news agency reported that a cruiser, a corvette, a diesel-electric submarine, and a rescue vessel from the country’s Pacific Fleet had arrived in Qingdao to take part in the drills, which are scheduled to run from July 6 to 13.
China’s Northern Theater Command said its contingent includes two destroyers, a frigate, a submarine, a supply ship, and a rescue vessel.
Chinese and Russian navies will hold the “Joint Sea-2026” naval exercise this month in waters and airspace near the Chinese port city of Qingdao in east China’s Shandong Province.
Following the exercise, some forces from both sides will conduct a joint maritime patrol in… pic.twitter.com/dkuKpMjzEF
— China Military Bugle (@ChinaMilBugle) July 5, 2026
During the exercises, the two navies are expected to carry out reconnaissance missions, air and missile defence operations, and surface strike drills.
The joint exercise comes about two months after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited China, where he described bilateral ties as being at an “unprecedentedly high level.” Chinese President Xi Jinping, meanwhile, described the partnership between the two countries as “unyielding.”
China and Russia have been conducting the annual Joint Sea exercises since 2012. Last year’s drills were held near the Russian port city of Vladivostok and were followed by joint naval patrols in the Pacific Ocean.
