The armed forces of Russia and China will carry out joint naval exercises between 21 and 27 December 2022. These are operations that have lasted for a decade (since 2012) and which the two countries conduct annually in the East China Sea. The training involves firing missiles and artillery strikes. Moscow will provide the "Varyag" missile-launching cruiser, which departed from the military base in Vladivostok.

"The main purpose of the exercises is to strengthen naval cooperation between Russia and China and maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region". "The active part of the exercise will include missile and artillery strikes against air and sea targets, and training in anti-submarine actions involving the practical use of weapons". "The Chinese navy will send two destroyers, two patrol vessels, a supply ship and a diesel submarine to take part in the exercise", the Russian defense ministry said on Thursday.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Moscow has sought to strengthen political, military and economic ties with Beijing, singling out Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a key anti-Western ally. Indeed, the two countries signed an "unlimited" strategic partnership a few days before Moscow invaded Ukraine militarily.