In an operation closely monitored by U.S. intelligence agencies, submarine forces from China and Russia conducted the first joint patrol in the western Pacific last month.
Military analysts called the joint submarine patrol a “varsity event” for the two militaries requiring extensive trust of data sharing on highly secretive submarine operations. The data is needed to prevent the submarines from colliding.
The diesel-electric submarines operated together in early August, according to a statement by the Russian Pacific Fleet and Chinese state media.
The operation was hailed by China as highlighting the two nations’ underwater warfare capabilities and interoperability.
The first joint underwater patrol was part of exercises dubbed the Chinese Maritime Interaction-2025 that was held from Aug. 1-5 in the Sea of Japan.
The unspecified Chinese Kilo-class submarine joined the Russian Kilo submarine Volkhov in sailing underwater from the Sea of Japan to the East China Sea.
