China, Russia Launch Joint Naval Drills Amid Growing Concern Over Their Military Ties
Udumbara
China and Russia have begun a week-long joint annual naval exercise in the Sea of Japan. Taking place from Aug. 1 to 5 near Vladivostok, the drill—dubbed Maritime Interaction 2025—marks the sixth of its kind.
Last year, the drill was held off southern China in the South China Sea.
The Chinese flotilla consists of advanced warships and support vessels, including Type 052D guided missile destroyers CNS Shaoxing and CNS Urumqi, which are equipped with YJ-18 cruise missiles and YJ-21 hypersonic missiles. The group also includes supporting vessels such as the CNS Qiandao Lake, a Type 903 supply ship, and the CNS Xihu, a comprehensive rescue vessel, reported China Daily.
Aviation and Marine Corps units from the Chinese Navy are also involved, contributing to the drill’s air defense and amphibious elements.
The drills are taking place amid a broader strategic backdrop of increased U.S. and allied engagement in the Indo-Pacific and ongoing global scrutiny of the evolving defense partnership between China and Russia.
China has provided key support to Russia in the face of Western sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. European leaders asked China again last week to use its influence to pressure Russia to end the war, now in its fourth year, but there was no sign that Beijing would do so.
Japan’s Defense Ministry said in an annual report earlier this month that China’s growing military cooperation with Russia poses serious security concerns.
In June, the European Union’s top envoy in Australia told the National Press Club in Canberra that Europe was worried the alignment between China and Russia would threaten global stability.
