The Chinese Defense Ministry has announced that a naval flotilla from Beijing has joined in the past few hours with the Russian air-naval forces in the Sea of Japan. The goal is to kick off an exercise, called "Northern-Interaction 2023", aimed at "safeguarding the security of strategic waterways" in the far eastern quadrant of Asia-Pacific.

The Chinese naval vessels departed from the port of Qingdao in east China's Shandong province. The Dragoon flotilla consists of five warships and four helicopters. The Chinese newspaper "Global Times" reported in detail that the national Navy has fielded: a destroyer and frigates equipped with guided missiles, as well as a support ship carrying four aircraft on board.

The exercise takes place in a "predetermined area" near the Sea of Japan. This joint military operation between the two countries underscores how cooperation between China and Russia has been enhanced following Moscow's armed invasion of Ukraine.