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.
Russian Kilo Class Attack submarine
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.
American Buddhist Net 