1. Title

RUSSIA-CHINA NAVAL DRILL: OCEAN-24

2. Overview

Russia and China conducted a significant joint naval exercise titled “Pacific Patrol-2024” (Ocean-24), under the direction of Russia’s Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Alexander Moiseyev. The exercise, held from September 10 to 16, 2024, was the largest bilateral drill between the two countries in the past 30 years, highlighting their expanding military cooperation.

3. Exercise Scope and Locations

The drills took place across key maritime zones, including the Pacific, Arctic, Mediterranean, Caspian, and Baltic Seas, reflecting a multi-theater operational focus.

4. Participating Forces

• Russia and China were the principal participants in this naval drill, showcasing their growing military partnership with strategic intent.

5. Strategic Objectives

Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov outlined the core objectives of the drills:

• Defending against large-scale maritime attacks, with a focus on protecting naval bases and strategic installations.
• Neutralizing threats from unmanned ships and aerial drones.
• Conducting amphibious operations, demonstrating coordinated sea-to-land landings.
• Safeguarding transport ships and securing critical sea lanes.

6. Key Activities and Maneuvers

• Firing exercises using live ammunition.
• Anti-submarine and anti-aircraft drills, focused on layered defense against aerial and underwater threats.
• Mine warfare and mine countermeasures were conducted to ensure safe maritime passage.
• Amphibious landings demonstrated the ability to project power ashore.

7. Strategic Importance

The joint exercise aimed to:

• Strengthen naval cooperation between Russia and China.
• Bolster peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Demonstrate their collective resolve in responding to maritime security challenges.

8. Historical Context and Preceding Drills

This exercise followed a series of similar drills between Russia and China, including the May 2022 nuclear-capable bomber flights and the September 2022 joint exercises that involved over 2,000 Chinese troops and hundreds of military assets.

9. Russia-China Military Alliance Prospects

Although some speculated that these drills could lead to a formal military alliance, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov clarified that despite frequent joint exercises, there were no plans for a formal military alliance similar to NATO. Instead, the current strategic partnership was focused on enhancing military coordination and capability.

10. Warships and Equipment Deployed

• China:
  • Type 052D destroyer Nanning
  • Type 054A frigates Xianning and Dali
  • Supply ship Weishanhu
  • Navy destroyers Xining and Wuxi
  • Frigate Linyi
  • Integrated supply ship Taihu
  • Shipborne helicopters and marines
• Russia:
  • Corvettes Gromkiy and Rezkiy
  • Irkut oiler
  • Anti-submarine ships Admiral Panteleyev and Admiral Tributs
  • Small anti-submarine ships MPK-82 and MPK-107
  • Long-range anti-submarine aircraft (Tu-142, Il-38, Il-38N)
  • Missile ship Smerch
  • Cruiser Varyag and 15 other warships

11. Strategic Implications

• Countering U.S. influence in the Pacific: The joint exercises reflected a direct response to the growing U.S. military presence, particularly the April 2024 deployment of intermediate-range missile systems in the Philippines. These deployments had heightened regional tensions, as such missiles were previously banned under the INF Treaty, from which the U.S. withdrew in 2019.

12. Regional Responses and Reactions

Following the Russia-China drill, Australia and the Philippines announced a joint maritime exercise alongside Japan, New Zealand, and the United States in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Australia’s Department of Defence emphasized that this move reaffirmed their commitment to upholding international maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.

13. Conclusion

The Ocean-24 naval drill underscored the growing military collaboration between Russia and China, signaling a shift in global military dynamics. With plans to make these exercises an annual event, the partnership between Moscow and Beijing appeared to be moving toward a more formal and robust strategic alignment, potentially challenging U.S. dominance in the Pacific region.