China and Russia Begin Joint Naval Exercises
China and Russia have started a three-day joint naval exercise named “Joint Sea-2025” in the Sea of Japan. The drill, launched near the Russian port city of Vladivostok, involves multiple warships, submarines, and support vessels from both countries.
Drill Objectives and Activities
The exercises focus on a range of coordinated military operations such as anti-submarine warfare, air defense, missile defense, search-and-rescue missions, and joint patrols. China has deployed four vessels, including the guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, along with a submarine rescue ship. Russia has deployed its large anti-submarine vessel Admiral Tributs and diesel-electric submarines.
Strategic Signals to the Region
While both nations stated that the drills were pre-planned and not directed against any third party, the timing and location of the operation have raised concerns among regional actors, particularly Japan. The Sea of Japan is a sensitive region given existing maritime disputes and heightened military activity from the United States and its allies.
Japan’s Security Concerns
Japan’s defense ministry noted the growing strategic closeness between China and Russia, describing their cooperation as a rising security risk in the Indo-Pacific. Meanwhile, Chinese officials criticized ongoing U.S.-led military exercises in the region, suggesting they destabilize regional peace.
Plans for Further Patrols
After concluding the current exercise, China and Russia plan to conduct a joint naval patrol through the western Pacific Ocean. Analysts view the drill as part of a broader message about the two countries’ military alignment and shared opposition to U.S.-led strategic dominance.
