On Sunday, China and Russia commenced joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan, signaling deepening defense cooperation amid their shared opposition to a US-led global order. The three-day “Joint Sea-2025” drills are taking place near Vladivostok and include guided-missile destroyers from China and Russia.
Beijing’s defense ministry said the exercises will be followed by coordinated naval patrols in the Pacific. The annual “Joint Sea” series began in 2012 and continues to serve as a symbol of the growing China-Russia military alliance.
The strategic partnership between the two powers has expanded in recent years, particularly since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. While China claims neutrality, it has refrained from condemning the war and is widely believed to have supported Moscow in indirect ways.
China often calls for peace in Ukraine but blames the West for prolonging the conflict through military aid. These drills reinforce the two countries’ alignment on global security and defense matters.
