By Abbas Nazil
China and Russia have officially entered the full maritime phase of their Joint Sea-2025 naval exercises, launching multi-domain operations in waters near Vladivostok, Russia, on Sunday.
According to Chinese state media, naval formations from both nations departed a military port early in the morning, initiating the open-sea phase of the coordinated exercises.
The participating vessels included China’s Type 052D guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, and the rescue ship Xihu, as well as Russia’s large anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs, the corvette Rezky, and rescue vessel Igor Belousov.
The ships formed a mixed China-Russia formation shortly after departure and sailed to the designated exercise area.
During transit, vessels established communication links and exchanged critical data such as hydrometeorological updates and information on maritime and aerial activities.
This development follows a detailed chart-based rehearsal by the joint command teams, which focused on operational structure, force coordination, and safety measures.
Military experts and personnel from both countries held professional exchanges on undersea warfare, including submarine rescue operations and offensive/defensive strategies.
The ongoing exercise is scheduled to last three days and will involve training in joint anti-submarine warfare, submarine rescue, air and missile defense, and live-fire naval combat simulations.
These drills aim to assess the effectiveness of prior coordination efforts and command decisions made during the preparation phase.
The Chinese Defense Ministry emphasized that the exercise is part of the annual cooperation agenda between the two militaries and is not directed at any third party or influenced by current geopolitical developments.
This year’s exercise marks the tenth installment of the China-Russia Joint Sea series, which began in 2012 and has since become a key platform for strengthening bilateral naval cooperation and interoperability.
Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, reiterated that the collaboration underscores the growing trust and operational readiness between the two nations’ maritime forces.
Following the drill, the two navies will reportedly embark on a joint maritime patrol across the Western Pacific, further cementing their strategic partnership.
Wang Yunfei, a Chinese military affairs expert, stated that each edition of the Joint Sea series builds upon previous ones by introducing new training elements to enhance coordination and strategic depth.
He noted that the inclusion of submarine-related operations in the current drills reflects a deepening military bond and a high level of mutual trust.
The drills come at a time of evolving international naval dynamics and signal a continued push by China and Russia to reinforce their defense cooperation and naval prowess on the global stage.
