China and Russia are set to conduct 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, signaling a continued deepening of military cooperation between the two nations.
The announcement comes roughly two months after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited China, underscoring the strategic alignment between Moscow and Beijing.
While the specific locations of the patrols remain undisclosed, the exercises are expected to take place in waters that are critical for global trade and energy transit.
This development adds to a series of recent naval movements in the region.
Two People's Liberation Army naval vessels, the destroyer Nanning and the frigate Hengyang, are scheduled to dock in Hong Kong for a five-day port call starting July 2, according to reports from the South China Morning Post.