Russian frigates make significant visit to China, highlighting strong cooperation

The first port visit by the Pacific Fleet to China in three years. The visit comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions and 16 months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Cold War-era frigates, named Gromkiy and Sovershenniy, were warmly welcomed by Chinese sailors dressed in white parade uniforms, holding placards to celebrate their arrival, as reported by Russia’s state-run TASS news agency.

These ships, based in Vladivostok, will remain in China until July 11, engaging in joint drills with the Chinese navy. The exercises will focus on ship-to-ship communications, coordinated maneuvering, and maritime search and rescue operations, according to Chinese state media.

Dmitry Lukyantsev, a representative of the Shanghai Committee for Foreign Affairs and Russia’s consul general in Shanghai, highlighted the significance of this visit, stating, “Their arrival is symbolic and very important… It vividly shows that our states maintain exclusively close cooperation in all directions, including the military and political sphere.”

In late June, the same frigates passed through waters near Taiwan, a self-ruled island, and later sailed past Japan’s Okinawa Islands, where the United States maintains a major military presence. The continued military cooperation between China and Russia underscores their informal alliance, which has remained intact despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Notably, while China has historically had close ties with Ukraine, it has refrained from explicitly condemning Russia’s invasion and has sought to mediate a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

The naval visit is preceded by a recent meeting in Beijing between China’s Minister of National Defense, Li Shangfu, and Russia’s Navy Chief, Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov. This meeting marked the first formal military talks between the two countries since the brief mutiny by the Russian mercenary group Wagner on June 24. During the meeting, China reassured Russia of its continued support, with Minister Li expressing hope for enhanced exchanges, joint exercises, and deeper cooperation to elevate defense ties to a new level, as reported by China’s defense ministry.

“The Chinese and Russian navies have close exchanges and frequent interactions,” stated Li. “It is hoped that the two sides will strengthen communication at all levels, regularly organize joint training, joint patrols, and joint war games.”

China currently possesses the world’s largest navy in terms of the number of vessels, holding a significant advantage over Russia not only in terms of size but also in technical capabilities. The visit by the Russian frigates serves as a visible indication of the enduring cooperation between the two nations in various spheres, including the military and political arenas.