China, Russia Conduct 1st Joint Submarine Patrol in Asia-Pacific: Russian Media

By Liu Xuanzun and Liang Rui

Aug 27, 2025 11:52 PM

In this handout photo released by the Russian Pacific Fleet, servicemen take part in the opening ceremony of the joint Russian-Chinese Maritime Interaction-2025 naval exercise, held from August 1-5 in the Sea of Japan, to facilitate the exchange of experience between Russian Navy and Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy sailors, in the far Eastern port of Vladivostok, Russia. Photo: VCG

Diesel-electric submarines of the Chinese and Russian navies have conducted a joint patrol in the Asia-Pacific region for the first time earlier this month, Russian media reported on Wednesday, citing a statement by Russia’s Pacific Fleet. A Chinese expert said that the joint patrol displayed the two navies’ underwater interoperability.

The joint patrol was launched in early August, following the conclusion of the China-Russia Exercise Joint Sea 2025 in the Sea of Japan, according to the Russian news agency TASS.

The diesel-electric submarine Volkhov of the Russian Pacific Fleet and a submarine of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy took to patrolling along an approved route in the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. After performing their mission, the crews returned to their home bases, per the Russian Pacific Fleet statement, as quoted by TASS.

The Chinese side has yet to announce the joint submarine patrol as of press time, but has released information about the Joint Sea-2025 joint exercise and a following joint maritime patrol in the Western Pacific.

After completing joint air defense, joint naval warfare, joint anti-submarine and anchorage defense in waters near Russia’s Vladivostok, the Chinese and Russian participating the Joint Sea-2025 joint exercise proceeded to a joint maritime patrol on August 6, the military channel of China Central Television (CCTV) reported at the time.

The joint maritime patrol was wrapped up on August 20 in the Western Pacific, CCTV reported separately.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the first joint submarine patrol indicated a high level of strategic mutual trust between China and Russia. Having submarines keeping in contact requires not only higher technical expertise but also more in-depth exchanges.

Submarines are stealthy and offer a high degree of deterrence, as the joint patrol showed the two navies’ underwater interoperability. Through the joint drills and patrols, the Chinese and Russian navies are steadily boosting their capabilities in jointly safeguarding maritime security and stability, Zhang said.

When announcing the China-Russia Exercise Joint Sea 2025 and the joint maritime patrol at a regular press conference on July 30, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson at China’s Ministry of National Defense, said that it is an arrangement within the annual cooperation plan of the Chinese and Russian militaries, not targeting any third party, and unrelated to the current international and regional situation.