China and Russia Begin Joint Naval Exercises in Yellow Sea and Pacific

China and Russia launched the joint naval exercise 'Joint Sea-2026' on July 6, 2026, in the Yellow Sea near Qingdao, with operations extending through July 13 and followed by a joint patrol in the Pacific. The drills involve a combined fleet including the Russian cruiser Variag, corvette Rezkiy, submarine Ufa, and rescue vessel Igor Belousov, alongside Chinese destroyers Anshan and Kaifeng, frigate Wuhu, a Yuan-class submarine, and support ships Source: infobae. Exercises include anti-submarine warfare, air defense, artillery fire, and maritime rescue, under a joint command Source: infobae.

Context

Beijing and Moscow describe the maneuvers as routine, aimed at 'responding jointly to security challenges' and 'preserving regional peace and stability' Source: larepublicaco. However, the timing aligns with a NATO summit in Ankara, where alliance leaders are set to discuss growing Sino-Russian military coordination Source: elmundoes. The drills also occur amid heightened Chinese naval activity in the Western Pacific, including a strategic missile launch from a nuclear submarine on July 6, and rising tensions with Taiwan and Japan Source: infobae.

Disagreement on direct military training

Separately, a Reuters investigation reported that Russia trained Chinese troops in sensitive defense fields (radiological, chemical, biological, critical infrastructure protection) last year, with authorization from Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. Chinese officials have 'categorically denied' the report, calling it 'slander,' while European sources claim to have independently confirmed the exchanges Source: elmundoes.