The Chinese Defense Ministry announced on Sunday that China and Russia will hold joint naval exercises in July to “counter maritime security threats.” The exercises will begin in Chinese waters but will then move to “relevant areas of the Pacific Ocean.” The exercise, dubbed “Joint Sea – 2026,” will begin near China’s port city of Qingdao in the eastern Shandong province. The last Russian ships involved in the exercise arrived in those waters over the weekend, and the exercises will reportedly be held from Monday, July 6 to Monday, July 13.
According to China’s state-run Global Times, the Russian force includes the guided missile cruiser Varyag, the frigate Rezkiy, the submarine Ufa, and a rescue ship called Igor Belousov. China contributed two guided missile cruisers, Kaifeng and Anshan, plus the frigate Wuhu, the supply ship Kekexilihu, a submarine rescue ship called Yangchenghu, and one unnamed submarine. The Chinese Defense Ministry said the exercise would include three phases: force assembly, port planning and coordination, and operations at sea. The port phase will primarily include planning sessions and seminars on land, plus mutual ship tours and a “friendly basketball match.”
