04.08.2025 – 08.08.2025 (A Tate Papers A Pine 1)

The Chinese and Russian navies began joint military exercises in the Sea of Japan on August 3, AFP reported.

The joint naval exercises come as China and Russia seek to counter what they see as a US-led global agenda and to strengthen their partnership.

In addition to economic and political ties, Russia and China have boosted military cooperation in recent years, with ties improving since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The drills, dubbed Joint Sea-2025, will be held for three days in waters near the Russian port of Vladivostok, China’s Defense Ministry said on August 3.

The two navies will conduct exercises in submarine rescue, joint anti-submarine warfare, air defense, The statement said the drills will include anti-missile drills and maritime combat drills.

Four Chinese warships, including the guided-missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqui, joined the drills with Russian ships, the Chinese Defense Ministry said.

The two countries will conduct naval patrols in the Pacific Ocean after the drills, the statement said.

China and Russia have held annual joint military exercises, including the Joint Sea Exercise, since 2012.

Last year’s drills were held off China’s east coast.

This year’s drills are aimed at further enhancing the strategic partnership between the two countries, the Chinese Defense Ministry said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping also said China would further support Russia when he met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Beijing on July 15.

The Chinese president made the remarks at a meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Meeting with Lavrov in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China and Russia should strengthen mutual support in multilateral forums.

Xi met with Lavrov after holding a general meeting of foreign ministers from member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

A volcano in eastern Russia’s Kamchatka region has erupted for the first time in 450 years, the country’s emergency services said on August 3.

The eruption came days after a powerful earthquake struck the region.

The eruption, named Krashennikov, sent ash into the air, according to the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanology Center.

The ash plume from the crater reached 6,000 meters (18,700 feet) into the air, the Kamchatka Emergencies Ministry said on the Telegram social media platform.

The ash plume spread east of the volcano, and the ash did not fall on populated areas, the ministry said.

The eruption follows the July 30 eruption of the Klyuchevskoy volcano in Kamchatka.