Russian and Chinese naval vessels will conduct joint patrols in the Asia-Pacific following recent exercises in the Sea of Japan, Russia's Interfax reported on Wednesday.
"Crews of the Russian Navy and China's PLA Navy will form a new task group to carry out joint patrol missions in the Asia-Pacific region," Interfax said, citing a statement from the Russian Pacific Fleet's press service.
The two navies held joint drills in the Sea of Japan over August 1-5 that included artillery firing, practicing anti-submarine and air defense missions, and improving joint search and rescue operations at sea.
During the final phase of the exercises, Russian large anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs and corvette Gromky, together with Chinese destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, carried out live-fire training drills and crews practiced searching for and neutralizing a mock enemy submarine, Interfax reported.
Drills are 'defensive in nature'
The Pacific Fleet earlier said that the drills were defensive in nature and not directed against any other countries.
Russia and China, which signed a "no-limits" strategic partnership shortly before Russia went to war in Ukraine in 2022, conduct regular exercises to rehearse coordination between their armed forces and send a deterrent signal to adversaries.