Russia and China have launched a large-scale joint naval exercise in the Sea of Japan, sending a clear message about their deepening military partnership. The drills, called Joint Sea-2025, began near the Russian port city of Vladivostok and are scheduled to last three days. This operation is part of a broader effort by both nations to strengthen strategic coordination and challenge what they view as a United States-led global power structure.
The exercises are being closely watched by neighboring countries and Western governments, especially as global tensions rise over the wars in Ukraine and Taiwan. Officials from both Russia and China have described the operation as defensive, but many observers believe the timing and location of the drills are highly symbolic.
The Joint Sea-2025 operation is extensive, involving multiple kinds of naval combat and support missions. According to China’s Ministry of National Defence, the drills will feature “submarine rescue, joint anti-submarine, air defence and anti-missile operations, and maritime combat.” These are complex tasks that require close coordination between ships, aircraft, and submarines.
China has deployed four major naval vessels to participate, including the guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi. Russia has added its own ships to the exercises, including a large anti-submarine vessel. Interfax, a Russian news agency, also reported that diesel-electric submarines from both countries are involved, along with a Chinese submarine rescue ship.
Following the conclusion of the main exercises, the joint fleet will continue with naval patrols in “relevant waters of the Pacific,” showing a wider regional presence and ongoing collaboration between the two militaries.
Location and Strategic Timing
The drills are taking place in waters near Vladivostok, a major Russian naval base on the Sea of Japan. This area is close to Japan’s western coastline, a detail that has not gone unnoticed in Tokyo. In its annual defense report last month, Japan’s Ministry of Defence warned that “China’s growing military cooperation with Russia poses serious security concerns.”
These exercises also began just two days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he had ordered two American nuclear submarines to be positioned in what he described as “the appropriate regions.” Trump said his decision was made in response to what he called “highly provocative” comments by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev about the risk of nuclear war between global powers. Trump’s rare public mention of nuclear submarine deployments heightened the tension surrounding the drills, even though the Russian-Chinese exercises had been scheduled well in advance.
A Long-Term Military Alliance
Russia and China have held joint naval exercises every year since 2012, under the banner of the “Joint Sea” program. But their military partnership has grown stronger since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. China has not condemned the war or called on Russia to withdraw. Instead, it has continued to provide an economic lifeline to Russia, helping Moscow endure Western sanctions.
On Friday, the Chinese Defence Ministry said the purpose of this year’s drills is to “further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership” between the two nations. Russian officials echoed that point. The Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet said in a statement that the exercise “is defensive in nature and is not directed against other countries,” according to the U.S. Naval Institute.
While China claims to be neutral in the Ukraine conflict, it regularly criticizes the United States and its allies for sending weapons to Kyiv. Western leaders believe that China’s support has helped prolong the war. Last month, European officials asked Beijing to pressure Moscow to end the conflict, which is now in its fourth year, but there was no indication that China would take such a step.
Analysts and defense officials say the Joint Sea-2025 drills show that Russia and China are not just economic or diplomatic partners—they are actively rehearsing military operations together. This is seen as a serious shift in global power dynamics.
The Russian news agency Interfax reported that the exercises include “artillery firing, anti-submarine and air defence missions, and search and rescue operations at sea.” These are not basic maneuvers but rather advanced operations meant to improve real-world readiness and interoperability between the two forces.
The Russian and Chinese navies have described their cooperation as a part of a “no-limits” strategic partnership. That phrase was first used in 2022, just weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine, during a high-profile meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
On Sunday, a ceremony was held in Vladivostok to mark the arrival of the Chinese vessels and the official start of the exercises. This show of cooperation highlights how serious both nations are about demonstrating unity and mutual strength.
Implications for the United States and the Region
The United States and its allies are watching closely. With China growing more assertive in the South China Sea and around Taiwan, and Russia continuing its war in Ukraine, these joint drills suggest that the two countries could support one another in future conflicts.
President Trump’s decision to deploy nuclear submarines in response to Russian comments adds another layer of tension. While neither the U.S. nor Russia usually reveals the movements of their nuclear fleets, Trump said he took action because of what he saw as “highly provocative” rhetoric from Russian officials.
As the drills continue and patrols expand into the Pacific, the message is clear: Russia and China are building a joint military presence that is capable, coordinated, and designed to push back against Western influence in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
The exercises may officially end on Tuesday, but the strategic implications will be felt much longer. Russia and China are no longer just practicing for war—they are preparing for how to fight one together.