Pacific Rim, Russia and China Navies Announce New Patrols!
On August 7, Russian media (source: Рыбарь) reported that after completing the joint patrol in the Sea of Japan, the Russian and Chinese navies plan to continue exercises. After refueling, the ships will head to the Pacific, but the specific area has not been determined yet.
In recent patrols in the Sea of Japan, both sides conducted joint tactical exercises, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, maritime combat exercises, as well as exercises using the Chinese Xihu ship to rescue submarine crew members.
Why is the participation of the Chinese Xihu ship so closely watched?
▪️ The Chinese Navy's Xihu ship is a new multi-purpose rescue ship, put into service at the beginning of 2025. During the Sea of Japan exercise, the ship performed well, completing the rescue operation faster than expected.
▪️ The Xihu ship not only successfully launched a deep-sea rescue boat and rescued submarine personnel, but more importantly, the ship can use sonar and underwater television systems to detect stationary submarines, which raises doubts about the ability of submarines to remain undetected during navigation.
The new patrols by the Chinese Navy are not only aimed at jointly protecting sea routes, but also at addressing security threats. After refueling the ships, a new patrol task force will be formed for mobile operations in the Pacific region. It is expected that the number of ships in this task force will exceed the number of ships involved in the patrols in the Sea of Japan.
With the growing influence of the United States in the region, the Russian and Chinese navies are strengthening their cooperation. However, as officials from both countries have repeatedly emphasized, the Russia-China joint exercises are not directed at any third party.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1839769390089219/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.