The Chinese and Russian naval ship formations arrived in Vladivostok, Russia, on Wednesday, concluding a 16-day joint maritime patrol.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the joint patrol fleet consisted of the Chinese Navy's Type 052DL guided-missile destroyer Kaifeng, the "10,000-ton major destroyer" Type 055 guided-missile destroyer Anshan, the comprehensive supply ship Kekexili Lake, and the Russian Navy's frigate Gromky.
The fleet set sail from Qingdao, Shandong, on July 13, passing through the Miyako Strait, Etorofu Strait, and Soya Strait, and conducted joint patrols in the western Pacific, the Sea of Okhotsk, the Sea of Japan, and other maritime areas.
During the patrol, China and Russia conducted shipborne helicopter mutual landing, joint counter-terrorism, humanitarian rescue, and inspection and seizure exercises. The Chinese ships also, in conjunction with the prevailing maritime and aerial situations, set scenarios on the spot and carried out multiple realistic combat drills.
According to reports, this joint patrol was arranged as part of the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian armed forces, aiming to enhance the two militaries' joint operational capabilities and jointly address maritime security threats, and is unrelated to the current international and regional situation.
Previously, the naval phase of the China-Russia joint exercise was held from July 9 to 11, after which the two navies proceeded to organize a joint maritime patrol in the Pacific Ocean, drawing vigilance from Japan.
On July 21, Japan’s Ministry of Defense reported that four Chinese and Russian warships sailed in the waters around Okinotorishima, Japan's southernmost territory, and assessed that this operation could be part of the China-Russia Pacific "joint patrol." It also, for the first time, reported that Chinese warships had conducted live-fire exercises inside Japan's exclusive economic zone.