In recent months, the growing military cooperation between Russia and China has drawn heightened attention from the international community. Russia and China have intensified their military cooperation, conducting joint naval and aerial patrols across sensitive regions like the Western Pacific and the Sea of Japan.
This emerging partnership aims to counter U.S. and allied presence, raising questions about the long-term implications for global security and geopolitical stability.
The Latest Show of Force
In August 2025, Russia and China launched “Joint Sea-2025,” their most advanced and comprehensive joint maritime exercise to date. The Chinese Navy sent advanced destroyers such as the Shaoxing and Urumqi, a state-of-the-art rescue ship, and an operational submarine unit. Russia participated with several naval vessels, including the Admiral Tributs destroyer, supporting aircraft, and maritime patrol elements.
By sailing through areas close to U.S. allies like Japan and South Korea, the patrols sent a clear message of defiance to Western influence in the Indo-Pacific. Analysts note that while the missions were presented as routine exercises, the timing and scope reinforced perceptions of a calculated display designed to test regional responses.
Transitioning to Joint Pacific Patrols
The 2025 patrol reportedly traversed the Sea of Japan, passed through the waters surrounding the Korean Peninsula, continued into the Philippine Sea, and approached territories near Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. This route was carefully chosen to demonstrate both navies’ far-reaching operational abilities and underline their willingness to operate near U.S. and allied territories.
“The patrols show our joint determination to maintain peace and stability, and to deter potential threats,” said Chinese military expert Zhang Junshe.
Standing Up to U.S. Influence
Russia and China have recently faced growing tensions with the United States. Russia cites the ongoing expansion of NATO and U.S. support for Ukraine amid the prolonged conflict. China, on the other hand, objects to increased U.S. naval deployments in the South China Sea and greater political support for Taiwan.
As Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated earlier this year, “China and Russia will deepen their strategic coordination and jointly oppose hegemonism and power politics.”
Military Concerns in Washington
The United States Department of Defense has significantly increased surveillance of Russian and Chinese military movements, especially as their naval patrols venture near sensitive areas such as the waters close to Alaska, Guam, and major trans-Pacific shipping lanes. U.S. warships and aircraft have been dispatched to shadow the joint task force, and military planners are reevaluating deployment strategies for the Pacific to account for the new multi-theater threat.
A senior Pentagon official stated, “We are witnessing operational coordination and scale between Russia and China that we haven’t seen since the Cold War.”
Response From Japan and South Korea
Tokyo and Seoul have called for stronger trilateral and multilateral security partnerships with the United States and other regional players like Australia and India.
A Japanese defense spokesperson said, “The seamless collaboration of the Russian and Chinese militaries is unprecedented in modern history. Their exercises and patrols introduce additional uncertainty into an already tense regional environment and compel us to rethink our own operational posture.”
Technological and Tactical Advances
This year’s drills featured new assets from both navies, most notably the Chinese Navy’s advanced rescue ship “Xihu,” alongside modern missile destroyers like the Shaoxing and Urumqi. On the Russian side, the participation of the Admiral Tributs, a large anti-submarine ship, and accompanying support vessels revealed Moscow’s willingness to expose core tactical assets to cooperation.
According to reports from Politics Today, “the use of secure data links, joint command protocols, and shared battle-management systems reflect a new level of technological confidence and readiness to operate as a combined force.”
The Message to the West
Holding prominent maneuvers in critical waterways near Japan, the South China Sea, and even close to Alaska, Russia, and China indicate that they have the capability and will to operate anywhere they choose, sending a clear message to their rivals. Politics Today said, “China and Russia are intensifying their security cooperation, not just diplomatically, but with clear military implications.”
This transparency is deliberate; both countries want the world, particularly the West, to witness the sophistication of their military ties.
Unprecedented Operational Reach
For the first time, Russian and Chinese naval task forces have ventured far beyond their customary patrol areas near the Asian mainland. Chinese military analyst Fu Qianshao remarked that these joint patrols show “enhanced training capabilities” and signal an intention to project power across wider maritime expanses, well beyond what was conceivable just a decade ago.
As China’s navy builds more aircraft carriers and Russia invests in modernizing its surface and submarine fleets, their ability to project power, and to do so together, will only grow.
NATO’s Watchful Eye
NATO intelligence and surveillance assets have been tasked with tracking Russian and Chinese military movements, particularly when these patrols push into regions considered integral to alliance security and maritime routes. In cooperation with regional partners, NATO’s vigilance and coordination are central to maintaining traditional European security and contributing to collective stability in the Indo-Pacific.
A NATO military official said, “Any significant shift in military power projection in the Asia-Pacific—especially by two nuclear-armed nations—requires us to assess the wider implications for our own security and readiness.”
Economic and Political Backing
China’s unwavering economic and political support has become a lifeline for Russia, especially since Western sanctions targeted Moscow after the invasion of Ukraine. China stepped up its purchases of Russian oil, gas, and food products, helping boost Russian trade and giving the Kremlin the financial stability it needs to keep up military activities, including ambitious joint patrols.
The two countries now trade more in their currencies, moving away from dependence on the U.S. dollar, which shields them from future sanctions and lets them operate more freely.
The Shadow of Ukraine
As the war in Ukraine drags on with heavy costs for Russia—both in terms of finances and international reputation—Moscow has found itself increasingly reliant on alliances outside the West for support and legitimacy. The partnership with China has provided much-needed economic relief, as Beijing continues to import Russian oil, gas, and agricultural products, giving the Kremlin critical revenue streams.
This gives Russia breathing space and greater confidence to conduct joint operations and signal resilience to international audiences, despite its preoccupation with Ukraine.
Western Military Countermeasures
One of the most visible countermeasures has been the U.S. Navy’s deployment of additional warships and surveillance aircraft to areas where Russian and Chinese forces have been most active. Whenever a joint Russian-Chinese flotilla has neared American territory or critical maritime routes, the U.S. military has responded with immediate air and sea patrols.
These efforts serve to both monitor the activities of the Russian and Chinese navies and reassure regional allies of an unwavering U.S. commitment to their security.
Reactions From Southeast Asia
Countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia have been especially attentive to the increased presence of Russian and Chinese military vessels in regional waters. Their primary concern is that these operations might be used to reinforce or legitimize China’s expansive maritime claims, especially in the South China Sea, where several Southeast Asian countries have overlapping claims with Beijing.
Southeast Asian leaders are careful not to overtly antagonize China or Russia, knowing that economic ties with both countries are vital for development, investment, and trade.
Deterrence or Destabilization?
Some analysts and officials, especially those in Moscow and Beijing, assert that their military partnership effectively counters what they see as unchecked U.S. and Western dominance in the Asia-Pacific. One commentator noted, “A more even distribution of power can sometimes prevent adventurism, because no side can assume quick or easy victory.”
On the other hand, many in the West and the region warn that these joint military actions introduce greater uncertainty and the possibility of dangerous miscalculations. “The larger and more complex these exercises get, the greater the chance that a small incident could spiral out of control before cooler heads prevail,” said a Western defense analyst.
Quotes From Military Analysts
Western analysts point out that while Russia and China aren’t formally allied like NATO member states, their annual military exercises are closing the interoperability gap. Across the board, military analysts are tracking these developments closely, warning that Russia and China’s willingness to push for deeper integration signals more ambitious intentions. As one U.S.-based analyst summarized: “Every new level of cooperation makes it harder for the West to predict, deter, or counter their combined moves—what we’re witnessing is the early stages of a partnership that could reshape military dynamics well beyond Asia.”
“Deploying real submarines and advanced rescue ships during joint drills means exposing sensitive technology. That shows tremendous trust and growing interoperability,” said Chinese military expert Wang Yunfei.
Implications for Taiwan
The deepening military cooperation between Russia and China has triggered particular anxiety over the possible consequences for Taiwan, a self-governed island claimed by Beijing and a longstanding flashpoint in East Asia. Officials in Taipei have growing concerns that the two could stage coordinated actions that might complicate or even overwhelm Taiwan’s defenses and response capacity.
Accelerated Military Collaboration
The statistics speak for themselves: over half of the two countries’ 113 joint military exercises since 2003 have taken place in the past six years, signaling a dramatic acceleration in the pace and scale of collaboration. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly emphasized that there are “no forbidden areas” for cooperation between Russia and China.
Notably, Russia and China have begun to share sensitive military technologies and tactical data, allowing them to field more coordinated and capable task forces in critical maritime zones.
Submarine and Air Defense Drills
For the first time during these joint drills, China deployed operational submarines to work directly with Russian surface ships and aircraft. Guided by anti-submarine warfare (ASW) tactics, Chinese subs coordinated closely with Russian warships like the Admiral Tributs, executing maneuvers that involved underwater tracking, tactical data sharing, and joint response to simulated undersea threats.
Alongside submarine drills, both navies conducted joint air defense operations that tested their ability to defend against simulated aerial attacks. These live-fire exercises involved coordinated missile launches and real-time information sharing about incoming “hostile” aircraft.
The Path Forward
Joint Russian-Chinese exercises are becoming more frequent, and they aren’t planning on stopping anytime soon. U.S. and allied militaries are responding by ramping up surveillance, conducting joint exercises with regional partners, and investing in new defense technology and interoperability forms.
Whether this path leads to further confrontation, managed competition, or a mix of stability and risk will depend on how the rest of the world responds.