China and Russia to hold joint naval drills
China, Russia to hold joint naval drills
China and Russia will hold joint naval exercises in the Yellow Sea this month before conducting a joint patrol in the Pacific Ocean.
According to the ministry, the drills, dubbed Maritime Cooperation-2026, will take place in the waters and airspace near the city of Qingdao.
After the exercises conclude, naval forces from both countries will carry out a joint patrol in the Pacific Ocean.
The ministry said the drills are part of the annual military cooperation plan between China and Russia.
Chinese officials said the exercises are aimed at "responding to security challenges and helping maintain regional peace and stability."
No further details were provided regarding the exact dates of the drills or the number of personnel and military assets involved.
China-Russia military cooperation
Earlier, media reports claimed that China and Russia had secretly held joint exercises related to the war in Ukraine, involving senior military officers from both countries.
This spring, Reuters reported that China had secretly trained around 200 Russian soldiers on its territory in late 2025, with some later returning to fight in Ukraine. The reports were later echoed by the EU and NATO.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied that Russia had secretly trained troops in China.
China's Foreign Ministry also rejected the reports, calling them an attempt to shift responsibility for the war in Ukraine.
