China and Russia Conclude Joint Sea-2026 Naval Exercises

The navies of China and Russia concluded the maritime phase of the Joint Sea-2026 naval exercises on July 13, 2026. Running from July 6 to July 13 in the Yellow Sea and near the port of Qingdao, the drills involved mixed task groups practicing joint reconnaissance, air and missile defense, anti-submarine warfare, and live-fire artillery exercises. The operations included simulated combat to repel drones and unmanned boats, with commanders making real-time tactical decisions without preset scripts.

Russia deployed the Pacific Fleet, led by the guided-missile cruiser Varyag, alongside the corvette Rezkiy, the submarine Ufa, and the rescue vessel Igor Belousov. China's Northern Theater Command Navy provided the guided-missile destroyers Anshan and Kaifeng, the frigate Wuhu, a Yuan-class submarine, and support vessels. The maneuvers followed a May 2026 meeting where Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping signed over 40 cooperation agreements.

Officials offered differing perspectives on the drills' purpose. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated the exercises were not directed against any single state and intended to contribute to regional predictability. Conversely, Chinese military expert Song Zhongping suggested the maneuvers aimed to deter unilateral actions by regional countries and resist historical revisionism. Following the drills, both navies scheduled joint maritime patrols in the Pacific Ocean to further their strategic partnership.