According to the Ministry of Defense website, on the afternoon of July 17, Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, issued a statement regarding recent military-related issues.
A journalist asked, according to reports, that recently China and Russia held joint exercises and maritime joint patrols. Some analysts said that this joint exercise coincided with a series of joint exercises by the United States and its allies, indicating that China and Russia are committed to breaking the world order dominated by the United States and the West. What is your comment on this?
Jiang Bin stated that recently, the Sino-Russian ‘Joint Maritime Exercise-2026’ was successfully conducted in the sea and airspace near Qingdao. Participating troops from both sides carried out drills involving joint reconnaissance, air defense missile countermeasures, and other activities. They successfully completed all tasks and are now transitioning into the stage of joint maritime patrols. This event is part of the annual cooperation plan between the two militaries, aiming to enhance the joint operational capabilities of both armies and to jointly respond to maritime security threats. It has nothing to do with the current international and regional situations.
Jiang Bin pointed out that it is important to emphasize that the cooperation between the Chinese and Russian military has always adhered to the principles of not forming alliances, not confronting each other, and not targeting third parties. This cooperation has played a significant role in defending the sovereignty and security of both countries and maintaining international and regional peace and stability. We hope that relevant parties will view Sino-Russian military cooperation objectively and rationally, and stop making subjective assumptions and sensationalist claims.
On July 10th, during the maritime phase of the Sino-Russian “Joint Maritime Exercise-2026”, submarines from both sides sailed on the surface. Xinhua News Agency
According to previous information from the Department of Defense, the Sino-Russian 'Maritime Joint Exercise-2026' concluded all scheduled exercises on the morning of July 13 at a military port in Qingdao. Some participating forces from both sides set off for the Pacific Ocean to carry out joint patrols.
This joint exercise was conducted under the theme of “Joint Response to Maritime Security Threats”. Both sides deployed a total of 10 ships of various types to participate in the exercise, with forces covering surface, underwater, air, and support capabilities.
"Fully immersing ourselves in the real sea-air combat environment and emphasizing practical combat orientation is one of the most distinctive features of this joint exercise. Through this exercise, both armies have further deepened their strategic mutual trust, strengthened their traditional friendship, and improved their ability to jointly handle maritime crises." said the Chinese chief director of the joint exercise.
According to Zheng Hong, a researcher at the Naval Research Institute, since 2012, China and Russia have conducted 12 'Maritime Joint' exercises. These exercises have become an important platform for deep cooperation and strategic planning between the two navies, and they hold significant practical significance for maintaining regional peace and stability.
