Russian and Chinese Submarines Conduct First Ever Joint Patrol

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy and the Russian Navy have for the first time conducted a joint patrol in the Pacific, at a time of increasingly close defence cooperation between the two neighbours. This follows the first ever deployment of Chinese submarines to Russia for joint exercises in late July. The Russian Navy Pacific Fleet reported regarding the operation: “The joint patrol was launched in early August, after the Russian-Chinese drills Maritime Interaction 2025 had concluded in the Sea of Japan. The diesel-electric submarine Volkhov of the Pacific Fleet and a submarine of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy took to patrolling along an approved route in the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.” The Russian submarine, a Kilo Class vessel, reportedly covered over 2,000 nautical miles during its voyage.

China has deployed warships for joint operations with the Russian Navy on multiple occasions, including in Eastern Europe and in the Eastern Mediterranean. A possible next step after joint short ranged patrols using diesel electronic submarines would be the deployment of much larger long ranged nuclear powered attack submarines for joint patrols or operations in the Pacific. Joint operations by Chinese and Russian aviation units have also escalated significantly in recent years, with the two countries having conducted multiple joint bomber patrols since the late 2010s. A major landmark in June 2024 saw Chinese H-6 bombers deployed beyond the Pacific for operations off the coast of Alaska, which required them to land and refuel on Russian territory before accompanying Russian Tu-95MS bombers to fly unprecedentedly close to the continental United States. China has also significantly increased its participation in exercises with Belarus, Moscow’s sole ally in Europe, and in July 2024 deployed ground forces to the country for Eagle Assault 2024 drills near the Belarusian-Polish border. These exercises have served to increase interoperability while helping Russia and Belarus to shoulder fast mounting pressure on their defences from NATO members.