China and Russia set naval drills off Qingdao
The annual Joint Sea exercises will involve warships, submarines and follow-on patrols in parts of the Pacific, according to Chinese and Russian officials.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
China and Russia are preparing to hold annual naval exercises off China’s eastern coast, adding another display of military cooperation between the two countries. China’s Ministry of Defence said the drills will take place in waters and airspace near Qingdao, a major port city.
The ministry said on Sunday that the exercise will be followed by joint maritime patrols in unspecified areas of the Pacific Ocean. The drills are scheduled for the coming week, according to the Chinese announcement.
Russian state media reported that vessels from Russia’s Pacific Fleet had arrived in Qingdao ahead of the manoeuvres. The Russian contingent includes a cruiser, a corvette, a diesel-electric submarine and a rescue vessel, according to those reports.
China’s Northern Theatre Command said its forces taking part include two destroyers, a frigate, a submarine, a supply ship and a rescue vessel. The two navies are expected to practice reconnaissance, air and missile defence, and strikes against surface targets, according to the Chinese military.
Long-running Joint Sea exercises
The drills are part of the Joint Sea series, which China and Russia have held since 2012, according to Al Jazeera. Last year’s exercise took place near the Russian port of Vladivostok and was also followed by joint patrols in the Pacific.
The latest exercise comes about two months after Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled to China. During that visit, Putin said relations between Moscow and Beijing had reached an “unprecedentedly high level,” according to Al Jazeera.
Chinese President Xi Jinping described the two countries’ partnership as “unyielding,” Al Jazeera reported. China and Russia are major diplomatic and economic partners, and their militaries have continued to hold joint activities during the war in Ukraine.
China has not denounced Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Beijing says it is neutral in the conflict and has called regularly for peace talks, according to Al Jazeera.
The Chinese and Russian announcements did not specify where in the Pacific the post-exercise patrols would be conducted. They also did not give details on the number of personnel involved.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.