China and Russia announce Joint Sea-2026 naval drills near Qingdao this month, followed by Pacific patrol

Announcement

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense said on Sunday that the navies of China and Russia will conduct the "Joint Sea-2026" exercise in waters and airspace near Qingdao, a major port in Shandong province on the Yellow Sea coast. The drills are part of an annual cooperation plan. After the exercise, some forces will take part in a joint maritime patrol in an unspecified area of the Pacific Ocean. No details were given on the number of troops or vessels involved. The waters off Qingdao are roughly 1,000 to 2,000 kilometres from disputed zones with Japan and the Philippines.

Objectives and context

The aim is to jointly respond to security challenges and safeguard regional peace and stability.

The announcement follows a late June joint air patrol by Chinese and Russian bombers over the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and the western Pacific. That mission prompted South Korea and Japan to scramble fighter jets, and Tokyo expressed deep concern through diplomatic channels.

Regional tensions

The drills come as China resumed coast guard patrols in waters east of Taiwan on Saturday, an operation that began in June and has drawn criticism from Taipei and several European countries as a threat to regional stability and freedom of navigation. China also has territorial disputes with Japan over the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands in the East China Sea and claims almost the entire South China Sea, through which about a third of global maritime trade passes.

Previous exercises and alliance

The Joint Sea series has been held since 2012. Last year's edition extended patrols as far as Guam, the Bering Strait, and waters near Hawaii. China and Russia have deepened military ties since signing a strategic partnership in early 2022, just before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Two months ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited China, calling bilateral relations "unprecedented," while Chinese President Xi Jinping described them as "unshakeable."

1. Late June 2026Joint air patrol over Sea of Japan, East China Sea, and western Pacific; Japan and South Korea scramble fighters.
2. Jul 4, 2026China resumes coast guard patrols in waters east of Taiwan.
3. Jul 5, 2026China announces Joint Sea-2026 naval drills near Qingdao and subsequent Pacific patrol.