Beijing, China – China announced Wednesday that it will conduct joint military exercises with Russia in August, including naval and air exercises near Vladivostok and joint naval patrols in the Pacific Ocean.
The exercises, dubbed “Common Sea-2025,” are part of regular plans for bilateral cooperation and “are not directed against third parties,” Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said at a news conference, adding that the two countries will conduct naval patrols in the Pacific Ocean in their waters after the exercises.
The “Common Sea-2024” exercises were held last year along China’s southern coast.
The maneuvers are taking place this year ahead of a scheduled visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to China that begins in late August.
Putin will attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, including a military parade, and is scheduled to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
