Joint Sea exercises

China and Russia are currently conducting their annual 'Joint Sea' naval exercises, which began this week off the coast of Qingdao, a major Chinese port city. The drills are set to continue until July 13 and will be followed by joint maritime patrols in the Pacific Ocean. Russian naval vessels, including the Slava-class cruiser Varyag and the Ufa attack submarine, have already arrived in Qingdao for the exercises. These annual drills underscore the deepening military cooperation between China and Russia. Their significance lies in the ongoing strategic partnership between the two nations, particularly in the maritime domain, as they conduct these exercises in waters off China's eastern coast and subsequently in the Pacific. The event highlights the coordinated military activities of these two global powers.