Russian, Chinese Warships Hold First Joint Patrols in the Pacific

Russian, Chinese Warships Hold First Joint Patrols in the Pacific
A group of naval vessels from Russia and China conduct a joint maritime military patrol in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, in this still image taken from video released on October 23, 2021. Russian Defense Ministry/Handout via Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

MOSCOW—Russian and Chinese warships held their first joint patrols in the western Pacific Ocean over the past week, Russia’s defense ministry said on Saturday, a move Japan said it was monitoring.

Moscow and Beijing, which staged naval cooperation drills in the Sea of Japan earlier in October, have cultivated closer military and diplomatic ties in recent years at a time when their relations with the West have soured.