The Chinese and Russian navies will hold naval exercises "Joint Sea-2026" this month in the sea and airspace near Qingdao port city in Shandong province, eastern China, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense announced.
After the exercise, a number of forces from both countries will conduct joint maritime patrols in related areas in the Pacific, the ministry said in a statement.
According to the military website China Military of the Chinese Army, as of July 5, Russian ships participating in the exercise have docked at a military port in Qingdao, and the gathering of all participating forces has been completed.
Russia has deployed a guided-missile cruiser, a small destroyer, a submarine and a rescue ship for the exercise, while China's participating forces mainly include units of the Northern War Zone Command Navy, including guided-missile destroyers, a guided-missile frigate, a general supply ship, a rescue ship and a submarine. Both sides will also deploy helicopters on board and marine units.
Focusing on coordinating to respond to maritime security threats, the exercise will be conducted in three phases: force mobilization, port planning and sea operations. The two sides will conduct joint reconnaissance, air defense and missile defense, along with sea attack operations, among many other training situations at sea. The personnel of the two sides will also organize professional exchanges and visit related ships.
The Chinese Ministry of National Defense said that the exercise is part of an annual cooperation plan between the armies of the two countries, aimed at jointly responding to security challenges and protecting regional peace and stability.
