Russian and Chinese naval vessels are set to carry out joint patrols in the Asia-Pacific region following recent military exercises in the Sea of Japan, Interfax reported on Wednesday (August 6). According to a statement from the Russian Pacific Fleet's press service, "Naval crews from Russia and China's PLA Navy will establish a new task group for joint patrol missions in the Asia-Pacific."

From August 1-5, the two navies conducted joint drills in the Sea of Japan, which involved live artillery firing, anti-submarine warfare, air defense operations, and coordinated search and rescue exercises at sea. In the final phase of these drills, the Russian anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs and corvette Gromky, alongside Chinese destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, performed live-fire exercises and practiced locating and eliminating a simulated enemy submarine, Interfax reported.

The Russian Pacific Fleet emphasized that the exercises were purely defensive and not aimed at any specific nation. Russia and China, who declared a "no-limits" strategic partnership just before Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, regularly hold joint military drills to enhance coordination between their forces and demonstrate a unified stance to deter potential adversaries.