China and Russia are set to hold their annual joint naval exercises in the Pacific Ocean later this month, Beijing’s defense ministry confirmed on Sunday.
The drills will include patrols in unspecified areas of the region, marking another step in the deepening military cooperation between the two nations.
The announcement comes amid a broader pattern of increased Chinese naval activity in the region.
Earlier this week, two People’s Liberation Army naval vessels, the destroyer Nanning and the frigate Hengyang, were scheduled to dock in Hong Kong for a five-day port call.
Additionally, China has recently announced plans to increase maritime police patrols in the waters east of Taiwan, a move that has intensified security concerns in one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors.
While the specific locations and scope of the joint drills remain unclear, the exercises are likely to draw attention from regional allies and global powers monitoring the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.