China and Russia have officially kicked off their annual “Joint Sea-2026” naval exercises off the Chinese coast, coinciding with Beijing test-firing a strategic missile into the Pacific Ocean. According to a statement from China’s defense ministry, the joint drills commenced on Monday in the eastern Chinese port city of Qingdao, where both navies established a joint command structure to focus on command and tactical coordination.

The bilateral training schedule includes joint reconnaissance operations, air and missile defense scenarios, and live-fire training exercises. Following the conclusion of the harbor and coastal drills, the Chinese and Russian fleets are slated to conduct a joint naval patrol across unspecified regions of the Pacific Ocean, mirroring a similar strategic patrol route taken after last year’s drills near Vladivostok.

On the same day the exercises began, a Chinese navy spokesperson confirmed the test launch of a strategic missile carrying a simulated training warhead into the Pacific Ocean. While it was not immediately verified whether the missile launch was formally integrated into the joint exercises, the overlapping timing emphasizes the expanding scale of the partnership. The ongoing drills follow a high-profile state visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing roughly two months prior, during which both nations reaffirmed their deep strategic alignment.