In a significant advancement emphasizing the deepening relationship between Russia and China, coast guard vessels from both countries carried out their inaugural joint patrol in the northern Pacific Ocean on October 11. The press office of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reported this event.

The patrol took place from September 20 to October 10 and involved a flotilla of vessels, including the Russian coast guard ships Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Anadyr, alongside their Chinese counterparts, Meishan and Xiushan.

The joint operation traversed the Sea of Japan, entered waters governed by the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fisheries Resources in the North Pacific Ocean, and proceeded to the Bering Sea, culminating in a journey through the Bering Strait to the Chukchi Sea.

The FSB said that the joint patrol served as a platform for both nations to showcase their readiness for cooperative maritime operations aimed at identifying and addressing security threats.

During the patrol, the Coast Guard services of both countries conducted various exercises, including communications drills, assistance to vessels in distress, and search and rescue operations, reinforcing their operational capabilities.

According to the FSB, the Russian and Chinese crews exhibited exceptional maritime skills and professionalism, with notable performance of the helicopter pilots deployed aboard the vessels.

This operation is consistent with the 2024-2026 cooperation plan between the FSB Border Guard Service and the China Coast Guard, highlighting both countries’ dedication to strengthening their collaborative initiatives.

However, the joint patrol could evoke concerns among neighboring countries in the Pacific, such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

They might perceive the Russia-China partnership as a direct challenge to their security interests, potentially prompting them to bolster their military alliances and enhance defense capabilities.

Moreover, the joint patrol could indicate a shift in maritime law enforcement strategies, especially in contested waters. Russia and China may leverage this collaboration to enforce regulations and assert territorial claims in regions of mutual interest.

Expanding Collaboration Between Russia & China 

The recent joint patrols between Russia and China signal an intensifying cooperation between their maritime forces. On October 2, China’s Coast Guard announced that, for the first time, it had entered the waters of the Arctic Ocean as part of a coordinated operation with Russia.

This came a day after the US Coast Guard reported spotting four Russian and Chinese vessels in the Bering Sea, marking the northernmost location where Chinese ships had ever been observed.

China stated that the joint patrol extended the reach of its Coast Guard into unfamiliar waters, testing their ability to perform missions in new environments.

On October 8, during another joint patrol in the northwest Pacific Ocean, Russian and Chinese ships carried out anti-submarine tasks following their participation in the naval exercise “Beibu/Interaction—2024.”

Earlier, on September 30, a combined Russian-Chinese warship group performed air and anti-submarine defense maneuvers during the same naval exercise in the Sea of Okhotsk. The drills included a Ka-27PL anti-submarine helicopter fitted with a submersible sonar to assist in locating submarines.

The “Beibu/Interaction—2024” exercises officially commenced on September 19, with a ceremonial gathering of Russian and Chinese naval crews before deployment. On that day, the Chinese Navy’s destroyer Xining and the frigate Lin Yi arrived in Vladivostok to join the exercises.

Further, the China Coast Guard (CCG) has ramped up its operations in key hotspots across nearby waters, engaging in a series of tense standoffs with Philippine forces near contested atolls in the South China Sea.

Nonetheless, Washington and its allies continue to be concerned about the deepening cooperation between the two powers in strategically significant waters.

Amid these growing joint activities, General Charles Brown, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed concerns about the increasing Russian-Chinese cooperation in the Arctic region.

Speaking at the Arctic Chiefs of Defense Conference in Iceland, Brown highlighted the importance of monitoring these developments. He questioned whether the collaboration between Russia and China would serve collective global interests or challenge the security of other nations.

Brown highlighted that the United States remains focused on deterring any potential threats in the region. He highlighted Russia’s modernization of its military capabilities, noting that it could threaten allied territories and interests, along with China’s increasing influence in the Arctic.

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