Two more Chinese warships join Russian military drills

Two Chinese Coast Guard ships arrived in Russia’s far east on Tuesday for a series of joint drills and patrols with Moscow’s forces, the Russian foreign ministry said.

The exercise, dubbed “Pacific Patrol 2024”, comes just a week after Chinese and Russian warships sailed through the Sea of Japan for a different drill, and as both countries ramp up their military co-operation.

“The Chinese Coast Guard ships Meishan and Xiushan are visiting Vladivostok,” a local branch of the Russian foreign ministry said on Telegram.

“During the visit, a number of events are planned, including joint exercises and patrols. A welcoming ceremony for the flotilla was held on 17 September,” it added.

Moscow and Beijing have deepened military and economic cooperation in recent years, an alliance that has drawn anxiety from the West as both countries seek to counterbalance what they see as a United States-led global order.

China sent four warships and a supply vessel to Russia last week for the start of Moscow’s Ocean-2024 exercise, part of the largest drill of its kind for three decades.