Russia and China began the Joint Sea 2026 naval exercise in the Yellow Sea on July 6, with officials stressing the drills are defensive and not aimed at any country, according to statements carried by the Russian state news agency TASS.
Exercise Scope and Participants
The exercise, running July 6-13, involves ships from both navies, including the Russian Pacific Fleet’s Guards cruiser Varyag, corvette Rezky, diesel-electric submarine Ufa and rescue vessel Igor Belousov. The Chinese Navy is represented by the destroyers Anshan and Kaifeng, the frigate Wuhu, a Yuan-class diesel-electric submarine, the comprehensive replenishment ship Kekexilihu and the rescue vessel Yangchenghu, TASS reported.
The crews, supported by naval aircraft, will practice joint rescue operations, anti-submarine and air defense objectives, and conduct joint artillery firings. At one stage, they will train to rescue the crew of a notional submarine in distress using a submersible vehicle, according to TASS.
Focus on Unmanned Systems
Chief of the exercise from the Russian side, Rear Admiral Sergey Sinko, said the drills would specifically focus on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and naval drones, TASS reported.
"As a specific feature of the current drills, they involve a considerable number of unmanned systems and uncrewed boats. In particular, the exercise envisages the scenario of fighting unmanned systems," Sinko told reporters. He called the topic "a very important issue" and said considerable time would be devoted to it.
Kremlin: Not Aimed at Anyone
Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that the exercise is not directed against any country, including nations in the region, TASS reported.
"Regarding our joint exercises, I must say that they are not directed against anyone, including any country in the region, and all sides should proceed from this position," Peskov said at a news briefing.
"On the contrary, cooperation in such an important and responsible area between Russia and China is a very important factor that contributes to predictability and regional security," he added.
The comments come as the two countries deepen military cooperation, with the Kremlin framing the drills as a stabilizing force in the region.