China and Russia will hold annual joint naval drills off China’s eastern coast starting Monday, according to the Chinese Ministry of Defence, but the exercises, part of an annual cooperation plan between the two countries’ armed forces, are set to run until July 13. The drills are designated as Joint Sea-2026 and aim “at addressing security challenges and helping to maintain peace and stability in the region,” the Chinese defense ministry stated.

Scope and Composition of the Drills

According to the Chinese Ministry of Defence, the exercises will take place near the major port of Qingdao and will be followed by joint maritime patrols in unspecified areas of the Pacific Ocean. Russian state media reported that a cruiser, a corvette, a diesel-electric submarine, and a rescue vessel from Russia’s Pacific Fleet had arrived in Qingdao for the drills. China’s Northern Theatre Command will send two destroyers, a frigate, a submarine, a supply ship, and a rescue vessel to participate in the exercises.

The two navies are expected to conduct reconnaissance, air and missile defense, and surface-strike exercises; this is the latest in a series of annual drills that China and Russia have held since 2012. Last year’s edition took place near the Russian port of Vladivostok and was also followed by joint patrols in the Pacific.

Diplomatic Context and Implications

The drills come roughly two months after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s trip to China, during which he described bilateral relations as having reached an “unprecedentedly high level.” For his part, Chinese President Xi Jinping called the two countries’ partnership “unyielding.”

China has never denounced Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, while it insists it is a neutral party and has been regularly calling for peace talks. The continued military cooperation between China and Russia has raised concerns in the West, particularly in Germany, which summoned the Chinese ambassador for urgent diplomatic talks on July 3. The meeting followed reports that Chinese military facilities had secretly trained Russian soldiers last year.

The German Foreign Ministry confirmed it had requested the meeting following Reuters’ revelations that the training had been personally approved by Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. “Anything that enables Russia to continue its war of aggression against Ukraine also threatens our security,” a German foreign ministry source told Reuters — “China’s decisive and growing support for Russia’s war directly impacts our security.”

Allegations and Denials

The Chinese embassy in Germany denied the allegations, labeling them “entirely unfounded.” According to a classified Russian document reviewed by Reuters, Russian military delegations traveled to People’s Liberation Army facilities in China to participate in specialized military courses. The military cooperation allegedly involved at least four senior Russian and Chinese officers and was authorized through an internal decree signed by Belousov in August 2025.

As both nations continue to strengthen their strategic partnership, these drills highlight their shared interests in countering Western influence and advancing joint security objectives in the Pacific and beyond. The announcement of the Joint Sea-2026 exercises follows a pattern of increasing cooperation between China and Russia.