China and Russia Organize Joint Pacific Drill to Address Maritime Challenges

China and Russia to Conduct Joint Naval Drills

On Sunday, China’s Ministry of Defense revealed plans for joint naval exercises with Russia in July, aimed at addressing “maritime security threats.” The exercises will kick off in Chinese waters before moving to various areas in the Pacific Ocean.

Referred to as “Joint Sea-2026,” the drills are set to start near Qingdao, a port city located in eastern Shandong province. Russian ships have already arrived in the area ahead of the exercises, which are scheduled to take place from Monday, July 6 to Monday, July 13.

The Chinese state media outlet Global Times reported that the Russian contingent includes the guided missile cruiser Varangian, the frigate Leskey, the submarine Ufa, and a rescue ship, Igor Belousov.

Additionally, China will contribute two guided missile cruisers—Opening and Anshan City—as well as the frigate Wuhu City, the supply ship Kekekisirif, and a submarine rescue vessel named Yangjo Lake. There’s also one unnamed submarine involved.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the exercises will unfold in three phases: gathering troops, port operations and collaboration, followed by activities at sea. During the port stage, beyond planning meetings held mainly onshore, there will also be ship tours and even a friendly basketball game.

The more dynamic phase at sea will include various training scenarios such as joint reconnaissance, air and missile defense, and maritime strike operations. While emphasizing the presence of advanced surface combatants like the cruisers Varyag and Kaifeng City, the official statement didn’t specify where the maritime threats might arise from.

One goal of this exercise is to reduce perceived threats to key maritime routes from certain regional countries. As military expert Song Zhongping noted in Global Times, the aim is for both nations to showcase their capabilities in securing these sea lanes and expanding operations deeper into the Pacific.

Furthermore, the joint exercise aims to deter unilateral actions by certain nations, push back against historical revisionism, and counter actions that compromise the security of neighboring countries. Song’s comments provide a hint on potential adversaries the Chinese and Russian forces might be preparing for, with the term “unilateral action” often used by the Chinese Communist Party to describe U.S. activities in the Asia-Pacific.

Amid this backdrop, the Kremlin’s tone softened slightly on Monday, stating that the Joint Sea-2026 drills are not designed to threaten any specific nation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked, “Our joint exercises are not targeted at anyone or against any single state in the region. It’s crucial for everyone to understand this.”