China and Russia Launch Joint Maritime Exercise 2026 in Qingdao

China and Russia officially commenced the “Joint Maritime Exercise 2026” (Joint Sea-2026) on July 6 at a military port in Qingdao, Shandong Province, bringing together frontline naval forces from both countries for a week of coordinated drills aimed at enhancing mutual trust and maritime security cooperation. The exercise, running through July 13, will be followed by a joint maritime patrol in the Pacific Ocean by select participating vessels, according to Xinhua News Agency.

A Deepening Naval Partnership

The Joint Sea exercise series, now in its 15th year, has evolved from symbolic bilateral drills into a structured operational framework that demonstrates growing Sino-Russian military interoperability. The 2025 edition was held off Vladivostok, Russia, and was also followed by joint patrols in the Pacific. This year’s exercise comes just weeks after the 11th China-Russia joint strategic air patrol in June and follows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to China in May, during which both sides described bilateral relations as being at an “unprecedentedly high level.”

Forces and Scope

Both nations deployed core operational naval assets, signaling the high priority placed on the exercise. China’s Northern Theater Navy contributed the Type 055 destroyer Anshan (hull 103) — a 10,000-ton vessel commissioned in 2021 with world-class comprehensive combat capability — along with the Type 052D improved destroyer Kaifeng (hull 124), the Type 054A frigate Wuhu (hull 539), the Type 903 replenishment ship Kekexilihu, the Type 926 submarine rescue ship Yangchenghu, and one submarine of undisclosed type. Shipborne helicopters and marine personnel from both sides are also participating.

Russia’s Pacific Fleet dispatched the Slava-class guided-missile cruiser Varyag — its flagship — the multi-role frigate Rezkiy, the improved Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine Ufa, and the rescue vessel Igor Belousov. As Global Times reported, Chinese military affairs expert Song Zhongping noted that both sides committed core operational naval forces, underscoring the scale of the operation and its elevated level of realism and combat-oriented training.

Exercise Structure and Training

Themed “joint response to maritime security threats,” the exercise is organized in three phases: force assembly, port planning and coordination, and at-sea operations. The Russian task force arrived in Qingdao on July 5, and a welcome ceremony was held before the official opening on July 6 at 09:00 local time.

During the port phase, participating personnel are conducting command exercises, tactical coordination planning, professional seminars, ship visits, and a friendly basketball match. The sea phase will feature joint reconnaissance and early warning, air defense and anti-missile drills, maritime strike operations, anti-submarine warfare, and live-fire training with actual weapons systems.

Strategic Significance

The exercise takes place against a backdrop of intensifying Indo-Pacific strategic competition, involving tensions over Taiwan, the South China Sea, and expanding U.S. alliance structures including QUAD, AUKUS, and Japan-Philippines defense cooperation. The post-exercise joint patrol in the Pacific extends operational reach beyond coastal waters, normalizing combined deployments in areas traditionally dominated by the U.S. Navy.

At the opening ceremony, the Chinese chief director stated that the Joint Maritime mechanism, after more than a decade of practice, has become an important platform for consolidating bilateral military relations, enhancing strategic mutual trust, and improving joint operational capabilities. The Russian chief director echoed this sentiment, saying the exercise would promote mutual trust between servicemen of both countries and enhance their ability to jointly maintain regional peace and stability.

Military expert Cao Weidong, interviewed by Xinhua, said the exercise reflects the high level of trust between the two countries and their militaries, adding that two maritime powers joining forces to safeguard maritime security contributes to regional peace and stability.

Geopolitical Implications

Analysts note that the expanding rhythm of Sino-Russian exercises creates planning complexity for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command by demonstrating the potential for coordinated maritime action. Song Zhongping told Global Times that through joint exercises, both sides seek to demonstrate their ability to keep sea lanes open and operate farther into the Pacific, serving to deter unilateral actions by certain countries and uphold the post-World War II international order.

However, despite deepening cooperation, Joint Sea-2026 does not represent a formal military alliance. Both countries maintain distinct geopolitical priorities, and operational interoperability remains selective rather than comprehensive. The exercise retains elements of political theater alongside genuine military training.

What to Watch For

Following the conclusion of at-sea drills on July 13, select participating forces will conduct a joint maritime patrol in the Pacific Ocean. The geographic scope of this patrol remains unspecified, but it will likely extend into areas that have seen increased Sino-Russian naval activity in recent years. The exercise also coincides with China’s reported test launch of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (JL-3) from the South China Sea on July 6, though it remains unclear whether the two operations are operationally linked.

As reported by Al Jazeera, the maneuvers come roughly two months after Putin’s visit to China, during which President Xi Jinping described the bilateral partnership as “unyielding.” The trajectory of Sino-Russian military cooperation will continue to be a critical factor shaping the Indo-Pacific security landscape.