China and Russia completed a joint maritime patrol on Wednesday, with naval forces arriving in Vladivostok. This mission marked a significant expansion in operational scope compared with previous joint patrols. According to China’s Ministry of National Defense, the task force departed Qingdao on July 13.
During the 17-day mission, vessels sailed through the Miyako, Etorofu and Soya straits. Consequently, ships conducted operations across the western Pacific, the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan. The task force included Chinese destroyers Kaifeng and Anshan alongside Russian corvette Rezky.
Throughout the joint maritime patrol, crews practiced helicopter landings, counter-terrorism drills and maritime boarding exercises. Additionally, Chinese vessels conducted realistic combat scenarios based on evolving maritime and aerial conditions. Military expert Zhang Junshe noted these drills demonstrate strong situational awareness and rapid response capabilities.
Notably, this patrol marked the first publicly disclosed transit through the Etorofu Strait specifically. Expert Song Zhongping explained that the route effectively circled Japan’s main islands entirely. Therefore, he argued this challenges assumptions that maritime chokepoints could contain Chinese naval movement.
Meanwhile, Japan protested the patrol, alleging live-fire drills occurred within its claimed economic zone. However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian rejected the complaint, calling Japan’s protest baseless entirely. He emphasized that Okinotori qualifies as a rock, not an island, under maritime law.
Both nations maintain that transiting these straits complies fully with international navigation law. Zhang stressed that passage through these waterways followed established United Nations maritime conventions properly. As a result, officials characterized the entire joint maritime patrol as lawful and routine.
Looking ahead, experts expect military cooperation between China and Russia to expand further. Song predicted more frequent joint drills spanning maritime, aerial and combined operational domains. Ultimately, officials framed these patrols as safeguarding regional security rather than escalating tensions.
