Chinese defense authorities announced Sunday that Chinese naval boats left this weekend to take part in joint exercises with the Russian military.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, which China did not denounce, relations between Moscow and Beijing have gotten stronger.
In recent months, the two have increased their defense relations and engaged in joint military exercises.
The most recent air-and-sea drills will take place in the Sea of Japan and are intended to “safeguard strategic maritime routes,” according to a statement made on Saturday by the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
Without mentioning the date of the drills, the Chinese military said in the statement released on Sunday that it had dispatched five vessels, including a guided-missile destroyer.
Last month, China and Russia conducted a coordinated air patrol over the Seas of Japan and East China, and as a precaution, South Korea deployed fighter jets in response to the flights.
Since 2019, there have been six similar China-Russia patrols in the region.
This month, Li Shangfu, the defense minister of China, called for expanding naval cooperation with Russia.
Since the start of the Ukraine war, Beijing has been Moscow’s most significant friend.
China claims to be a third party in the crisis, but because it has not denounced the invasion, Ukraine’s allies have accused China of siding with Russia.
