China-Russia Naval Exercise Enters Sea Phase in Yellow Sea

QINGDAO, China — The port exchange phase of the China-Russia Maritime Joint-2026 exercise successfully concluded on July 8 in Qingdao, with participating vessels departing from a military port on July 9 to proceed to designated waters for the at-sea phase of the drills, according to CCTV News.

The exercise, running from July 6 to 13 in the Yellow Sea near Qingdao, is divided into three phases: force assembly, port planning, and maritime drills. The at-sea phase, which began July 9, will include joint reconnaissance, air defense and anti-missile drills, surface strike operations, anti-submarine warfare training, joint submarine rescue exercises, and live-fire training.

Mutual Ship Visits Mark Key Moment

A highlight of the port exchange phase was the reciprocal ship visits on July 8. China opened its Type 052D guided-missile destroyer Kaifeng (Hull 124) — nicknamed the “Chinese Aegis” — while Russia opened its Slava-class guided-missile cruiser Varyag (Hull 011), known as the “Aircraft Carrier Killer,” for mutual tours by naval personnel, as reported by Global Times via Sina News.

Russian sailor Stanislav, participating in the exercises for the first time, said aboard the Kaifeng: “Apart from the clean and impressive exterior, what struck me most was that all the weapons and equipment were well-maintained. You can tell this ship’s daily maintenance is very solid and its condition is excellent.”

Stanislav, who is from Vladivostok, added: “This is the first time in my life I’ve visited China. Your country is very beautiful, the infrastructure is very developed, amazing. The city is very large, everything is orderly — it left a deep impression on us.”

Chinese sailor Yang Mingyi, aboard the Varyag for the first time, noted the Russian crew’s strong combat readiness awareness. “Armed guard posts were set up at the gangway and forward deck, with personnel equipped with helmets, bulletproof vests, and night vision sights on their weapons. Their professionalism impressed us,” he said.

Participating Forces and Capabilities

China deployed a formidable array of vessels for the exercise, including the Type 055 guided-missile destroyer Anshan (Hull 103), a 10,000-ton vessel considered one of China’s most advanced surface combatants; the Type 052D destroyer Kaifeng, serving as the Chinese command ship; the Type 054A frigate Wuhu; the comprehensive supply ship Kekexili Lake; the Type 926 submarine rescue ship Yangcheng Lake; and an undisclosed submarine, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Russia’s contingent is led by the Varyag, flagship of the Russian Pacific Fleet, accompanied by the modernized Type 20380 corvette Linye (Hull 343), the submarine Ufa, and the submarine rescue ship Igor Belousov, as detailed by Xinhua.

A Maturing Partnership

The Maritime Joint series, which began in 2012, has evolved into a well-established brand of international military cooperation, now spanning over 14 years. The exercises have been held in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, Sea of Japan, Mediterranean Sea, and Baltic Sea, alternating between Chinese and Russian waters.

Chinese sailor Guo Xihuan, participating in his fifth Maritime Joint exercise, reflected on the transformation of the Chinese navy. “From the Dalian to the Kaifeng, the Chinese navy has undergone earth-shaking changes. The level of intelligence on our ships is constantly improving, with higher system integration and faster operational efficiency,” he said.

Joint Command Officer Chang Hao noted the maturity of the cooperation mechanism. “After more than a decade of development, the China-Russia joint exercise mechanism is very mature. Both sides understand and trust each other, with a high degree of tacit understanding,” he said.

Strategic Implications

The exercise takes place against a backdrop of complex international security challenges and demonstrates the deepening of the China-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for a New Era. At the opening ceremony on July 6, the Chinese exercise director-general stated that Maritime Joint has become “an important platform for consolidating and developing bilateral military relations, enhancing strategic mutual trust, and improving joint operational capabilities,” as reported by Xinhua.

The Russian exercise director-general emphasized that the exercise “will promote mutual trust between the military personnel of the two countries and enhance the ability to jointly maintain regional peace and stability.”

What’s Next

The at-sea phase is expected to continue through approximately July 13. Following the conclusion of the exercise, some participating forces will proceed to the Pacific for a joint maritime patrol, extending the operational scope beyond the Yellow Sea and signaling the growing reach of China-Russia naval cooperation.