China and Russia to Hold Joint Exercise in East Sea in August, Followed by Pacific Joint Patrol

"Unrelated to International Situation"
Sixth Official Pacific Patrol Since October 2021

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense announced on July 30 that the Chinese and Russian navies will conduct a joint exercise next month, followed by a joint patrol in the Pacific.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense. Photo by Yonhap News

At a regular briefing on the same day, Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang stated, "The Chinese and Russian navies will hold the 'Joint Sea-2025' exercise in August in the waters and airspace near Vladivostok, Russia."

Zhang added, "After the exercise concludes, some participating forces from both countries will move to the Pacific Ocean to conduct the sixth joint sea patrol." He emphasized, "This is part of the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries, is not aimed at any third party, and is unrelated to the current international or regional situation."

The Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet also announced in a statement on the same day, "From August 1 to 5, a joint naval exercise between Russia and China will take place." The statement explained, "This regular exercise is held in the Sea of Japan (referred to as the East Sea in Russia) to exchange experience between the Russian and Chinese navies." The statement further stressed, "This exercise is defensive in nature and is not targeted at any third country."

The Pacific Fleet explained that the two navies will establish a command headquarters in Vladivostok, Russia, and conduct training both on land and at sea.

This will be the sixth publicly announced joint Pacific patrol by China and Russia, following previous patrols in October 2021, September 2022, July 2023, and twice last year in July and September-October. Last year marked the first time two joint patrols were conducted in a single year. During the September-October 2023 exercise, the two countries deployed 10 warships and more than 30 aircraft in the East Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk, and subsequently conducted joint maneuvers and anti-submarine defense drills in the northwestern Pacific. During a similar period, the coast guards of both countries also conducted joint training and patrols in the Pacific.

Afterwards, at the end of November last year, the two countries also conducted a joint air force patrol over the East Sea and the Pacific, including the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ). It is known that bombers and fighter jets from both countries sequentially entered and exited the East Sea and South Sea KADIZ.

At that time, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense also stated, "The China-Russia joint strategic aerial patrol is a regular project within the annual cooperation plan," and asserted, "It is not aimed at any third country and is unrelated to the current international or regional situation."