China

Russia and China Conduct Joint Naval Drills

Is this a routine peacekeeping exercise or a provocative show of force?

Published JUL 6

Russia and China Conduct Joint Naval Drills

Story

Above: The Russian Navy submarine Ufa arrived at a military port in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China, on July 5. Image credit: Yi Haifei/China News Service/VCG/Getty Images

The Facts

China and Russia launched their annual "Joint Sea-2026" naval exercises on Monday in the Yellow Sea, with drills scheduled to run through July 13 in waters and airspace near the port city of Qingdao.
Al Jazeera
TASS
The Chinese side deployed guided-missile destroyers, a frigate, a submarine, a supply ship and a rescue vessel, while Russia contributed the guided-missile cruiser Varyag, a frigate, a submarine and a rescue vessel.
Global Times
Global Banking and Finance
Following the exercises, naval forces from both countries will conduct a joint maritime patrol in unspecified areas of the Pacific Ocean. China's Defense Ministry said the activities are aimed at "jointly responding to security challenges and safeguarding regional peace and stability."
The Express Tribune
The New Voice of Ukraine
The drills include joint reconnaissance, air and missile defense, surface-strike operations and anti-submarine warfare. One training stage involves rescuing the crew of a simulated distressed submarine using a deep-submergence rescue vehicle.
Bloomberg
TASS
China and Russia have held "Joint Sea" exercises annually since 2012. Last year's edition took place near the Russian port of Vladivostok and was also followed by joint patrols in the Pacific Ocean.
Brusselstimes
Taipei Times
Recent military exercises followed President Putin's visit to China, where he praised their "unprecedentedly high" ties, and Xi Jinping called the partnership "unyielding." While China claims neutrality regarding Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Western nations, including the U.S., accuse Beijing of supporting Moscow's military efforts.
Al Jazeera
The Manila Times

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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The Spin

Establishment-critical narrative

The Joint Sea-2026 drills are a legitimate, defensive exercise between two sovereign nations focused on search-and-rescue, anti-submarine warfare and air defense. These annual exercises have been routine since 2012 and are explicitly aimed at maintaining regional peace and stability. Framing normal military cooperation as a threat says more about Western anxiety than about any actual aggression.

People's Daily, China on X

Global Times

XINHUA on X

TASS

Pro-establishment narrative

China-Russia naval drills are happening while Russia wages war on Ukraine and while reports confirm Russian troops secretly trained in China. The two sides practiced destroying an "enemy" submarine days after Trump repositioned nuclear submarines to counter Russian provocations. Calling this peacekeeping is a stretch when one partner is actively fighting a land war in Europe.

Taipei Times