China and Russia will hold joint naval exercises in the Yellow Sea this month before launching a joint maritime patrol in the Pacific Ocean, China's Defense Ministry said, according to Bloomberg on July 5.
The Chinese Defense Ministry said the drills will take place in the waters and airspace near the city of Qingdao.
After the exercises conclude, the armed forces of the two countries will conduct a joint naval patrol in the Pacific Ocean.
According to the ministry, the Joint Sea 2026 exercises are part of the annual military cooperation plan between China and Russia.
The ministry said the activities are aimed at "responding to security challenges and helping maintain regional peace and stability."
It did not disclose the dates of the exercises or the number of personnel and military assets involved.
Earlier, in May 2026, Reuters reported that about 200 Russian servicemen secretly underwent military training in China in late 2025, with some later returning to fight in Ukraine.
According to Reuters' sources, the training was conducted under a bilateral agreement signed in Beijing on July 2, 2025, by Russian Maj. Gen. Rustam Khusainov and Chinese Senior Col. Sun Dayun.
The agreement said Russian troops would train at military facilities in Beijing and Nanjing, while Chinese personnel would undergo training in Russia. The Russian servicemen received instruction in areas including unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare, army aviation and armored infantry operations. The agreement also prohibited media coverage of the visits and the disclosure of information to third parties.
