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Key Points: The Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet recently concluded a visit to the Chinese port of Qingdao, marking another step in the growing partnership between the two nations’ navies.

-This collaboration included cultural exchanges and professional discussions, reflecting their broader “no limits” partnership.

-Despite increasing joint exercises and activities, such as the large-scale “Ocean 2024” drills, analysts describe the partnership as one of convenience rather than strategic alignment.

-Both Russia and China aim to counterbalance U.S. dominance in the Indo-Pacific, but their competing long-term objectives suggest limits to this cooperation.

-The U.S., with allies like Japan and South Korea, remains strategically positioned for potential regional tensions.

Sino-Russian Naval Partnership: A Convenient Alliance?

On Monday, a Russian Navy flotilla from its Pacific Fleet headed back to sea from the Chinese port of Qingdao. For several days, Russian sailors took part in cultural events with their Chinese counterparts, before setting course to the home port of Vladivostok.

It was the second time a Russian Warship had visited the Chinese city since mid-October.

“The Russian naval group consisting of the corvettes Gromky, Rezky, and Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov and the tanker Pechenga has completed its business call at the port of Qingdao of the People’s Republic of China,” the Pacific Fleet press office said in a statement to Tass.

“Chinese and Russian naval sailors boarded each other’s ships for cross-deck visits and exchanged ideas on professional skills,” the Chinese Ministry of Defense also announced, adding, “The visit of the Russian naval ships to China serves as another practical step towards strengthening cooperation between the two navies.”

A Sino-Russian Naval Partnership

This port visit of the Russian Navy’s flotilla is just the latest in an increasingly close partnership between Beijing and Moscow. In September, Russia and China held “Ocean 2024,” a large-scale, week-long exercise that involved more than 400 Russian warships, submarines and support vessels. It wasn’t limited to the Indo-Pacific and saw the Russian Navy’s Northern and Baltic fleets also participated.

Fujian, China’s new aircraft carrier. Image Credit: Chinese Internet.

An undisclosed number of People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels also took part in the joint drills. 

In the past year, the U.S. Coast Guard has seen an uptick in Russian and Chinese naval activity near Alaska. That is a reminder that this burgeoning partnership only benefits Moscow and Beijing so much – and rather it is simply a response to the United States domination in the Indo-Pacific.

“Although not natural strategic partners but compelled to collaborate as a counterweight against the United States and its regional allies, Russia and China are strengthening security collaboration in the Pacific Ocean and the Arctic region, where operations in and around the Bering Strait could be prioritized,” the Jamestown Foundation explained.

The U.S. has numerous regional allies it can count on, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and even the Philippines. By contrast, even as China has increased its naval capacities, and is now operating multiple aircraft carriers, lacks regional partners. Likewise, while the Soviet Navy was once a sizeable force, the Russian Navy is a shell of that former self.

The joint naval drills and port visits have been seen as part of the “no limit” partnership that Moscow and Beijing have pledged as part of the new era of cooperation.

However, in September Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Kevin Schneider said in a roundtable with reporters at the Air and Space Forces Association Air, Space and Cyber conference that it was more of a “partnership of convenience,” and that the two nations have competing goals.

China's Aircraft Carriers

Comparison of U.S. and Chinese Aircraft Carrier sizes. Image Credit: Screenshot.

“In terms of the exercises between [China] and Russia, I do see that there are potential limits to that cooperation,” Schneider added. “Politically, it is unclear to me their long-term goals and objectives other than to counter what the United States and allies and partners are doing.”

Even if there is no formal Sino-Russian naval alliance, Washington will need to ensure it has its own partners and allies – as an Indo-Pacific showdown could be looming.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Senior Editor focusing on defense issues for 19FortyFive. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,500 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on X: @PeterSuciu – and on Bluesky: @petersuciu.bsky.social.