Moscow- For the first time, Chinese and Russian diesel-electric submarines carried out a joint patrol in the Asia-Pacific region earlier this month, according to a statement released by Russia’s Pacific Fleet and reported by Russian media on Wednesday.

The patrol began in early August, shortly after the conclusion of the China-Russia Joint Sea 2025 naval drills in the Sea of Japan. Russia’s Pacific Fleet submarine Volkhov and a submarine from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy patrolled a designated route in the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea before returning to their respective bases.

While Beijing has not yet officially announced the submarine patrol, Chinese state media confirmed the broader Joint Sea 2025 exercise and a follow-up joint maritime patrol in the Western Pacific. According to China Central Television (CCTV), the joint maritime patrol, which began on August 6, concluded on August 20.

During the joint drills, Chinese and Russian forces conducted exercises in air defense, naval warfare, anti-submarine operations, and anchorage defense in waters near Vladivostok.