China and Russia to hold joint naval exercises

The Chinese Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday, July 5, 2026, that the annual joint naval exercises titled 'Joint Sea-2026' will take place this month. The drills are scheduled for next week in the waters and airspace off the coast of Qingdao, a key military port in eastern China. Following the naval exercises, both nations will conduct joint maritime patrols in unspecified areas of the Pacific Ocean. While the scale of the mobilization was not disclosed, the move marks a continuation of deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing. This partnership is characterized by their shared opposition to a U.S.-led global order. These exercises follow a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to China two months prior, where he and President Xi Jinping reaffirmed their strategic ties. Western governments have expressed concern regarding the increasing military collaboration between the two nations amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.