Russia-China military exercises pose no threat to third countries – Moscow

Joint military exercises conducted by Russia and China are not aimed at any third country and serve as an important factor for regional security, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Commenting on the launch of the Joint Sea-2026 exercises in Qingdao, Peskov stressed that the drills should not be viewed as targeting any state in the region, TASS reports.

“Our joint exercises are not directed against anyone or any country in the region, and everyone should proceed from that understanding. On the contrary, cooperation between Russia and China in such an important and responsible sphere is a significant factor contributing to predictability and security in the region,” he told reporters.

The Russia-China naval drills are taking place in the Yellow Sea from July 6 to July 13.

Peskov also stated that China poses no threat to any country in the Asia-Pacific region or elsewhere and described Beijing’s recent missile test as a sovereign right.

Earlier, China’s Ministry of National Defence announced that the People's Liberation Army Navy had successfully carried out a test launch of a submarine-launched strategic missile into the Pacific Ocean.

The ministry said the launch was part of its annual military training program. According to the statement, relevant countries were notified in advance, the test complied with international law and international practice, and it “was not directed against any specific country or target.”

By Jeyhun Aghazada