China and Russia begin annual Joint Sea naval drills off eastern coast

Naval forces from China and Russia are due to carry out joint training this week in waters and airspace along the eastern coast of China.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Chinese Ministry of Defence said the yearly exercise centred on the port of Qingdao would be followed by joint maritime patrols in areas of the Pacific Ocean that officials have not specified.

Russian state media separately reported that a cruiser, a corvette, a diesel-electric submarine and a rescue vessel from Russia’s Pacific Fleet had reached Qingdao ahead of the drills, which are scheduled to run from Monday to 13 July.

China’s Northern Theatre Command said its contribution includes two destroyers, a frigate, a submarine, a supply ship and a rescue vessel.

The two navies are expected to practise reconnaissance, air and missile defence, and surface-strike operations.

The exercises come roughly two months after Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled to China, where he said bilateral relations had reached an "unprecedentedly high level". Chinese President Xi Jinping described the partnership between the two countries as "unyielding".

Beijing and Moscow have staged Joint Sea drills each year since 2012. Last year’s round was held near the Russian port of Vladivostok and, like this year’s programme, was followed by joint patrols in the Pacific.

China has not condemned Russia’s full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. Beijing says it remains a neutral party and has repeatedly called for peace talks.