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China, Russia navies to hold drills off China coast
The annual drills include reconnaissance, air and missile defense, and anti-ship strike exercises, and some forces will later conduct joint Pacific patrols.
On Monday, the Chinese and Russian navies began 'Joint Sea-2026' exercises in waters and airspace off Qingdao, featuring search-and-rescue, anti-submarine, and live-fire operations through July 13.
Beijing and Moscow have held 'Joint Sea' exercises since 2012, reflecting a partnership Russian President Vladimir Putin described as reaching an 'unprecedentedly high level' and Chinese President Xi Jinping called 'unyielding.'
Russia's Pacific Fleet vessels including the cruiser Varyag and submarine Ufa arrived alongside China's Northern Theatre Command destroyers Kaifeng and Anshan, the frigate Wuhu, and supply ship Kekexilihu.
Following the exercise, naval forces will conduct joint maritime patrols in the Pacific Ocean, an arrangement aimed at "jointly responding to security challenges and safeguarding regional peace and stability."
The exercises represent an "implicit challenge to a free and open Indo-Pacific," said Mark Davidson, an assistant professor of Asian studies at Temple University Japan, as Western governments view the partnership with suspicion.
China and Russia are conducting military exercises on a regular basis. From now on, they both want to rehearse for a week. China has also fired a rocket in the Pacific - countries in the region were worried.