Chinese navy ships arrive in Vladivostok for joint exercise

China

Chinese navy ships arrive in Vladivostok for joint exercise

2025-08-01 13:56 Last Updated At：14:07

Chinese naval ships arrived in Vladivostok, Russia on Thursday for the Joint Sea-2025 drill.

The fleet, comprising the Type 052D guided missile destroyers Shaoxing and Urumqi, the Type 903 comprehensive replenishment ship Qiandaohu, and the comprehensive rescue ship Xihu, was welcomed by the joint directing team of the drill and officials from the Chinese embassy in Russia and Chinese consulate general in Vladivostok.

The China-Russia joint military exercise is taking place in the waters and airspace near Vladivostok from Aug 1 to 6, under the themes of "jointly safeguarding strategic maritime routes" and "jointly countering security threats in the Western Pacific".

The exercise includes three phases of force assembly, joint planning and joint drills.

"The China-Russia joint exercise will enter the phase of joint planning. During this phase, the two sides will hold professional seminars and conduct cultural and sports exchanges and other activities to deepen mutual understanding, enhance friendship and prepare for the next phase of joint maritime drills," said Yan Shuai, an officer of the Chinese fleet participating in the exercise.

Ten editions of China-Russia Joint Sea drills have been successfully held since 2012, as the series has become an important platform for China-Russia naval cooperation, promoting maritime joint operational capabilities from all directions, according to the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy.

Following the conclusion of the joint exercise this time, some participating forces from both sides will proceed to relevant areas of the Pacific Ocean to carry out the sixth joint maritime patrol.

UNGA President warns global multilateral system "under attack"

The multilateral system is "under attack" amid global turmoil, President of the 80th UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock warned in her remarks on Wednesday.

In her briefing on the priorities for the resumed 80th Session of the General Assembly, the UNGA president noted that the current multilateral system does not collapse all in a sudden, but "crumbles piece by piece" in divisions, compromises, and lack of political commitment.

The president called all the UN member states to defend the UN Charter and international law and promote cross-regional cooperation.

She also urged to push forward the work of the UNGA on certain critical issues with a strong majority, rather than an absolute consensus among all member states. Such act is not a failure of multilateralism, but "an affirmation of it," she said.

The foundational principles of the institution should not be eroded by appeasement, she said, calling the member states to show courage, leadership, and responsibility at the UN's "critical make-or-break moment."

"The UN needs you. Your support, your leadership, your principle, stand, your cross-regional cooperation, if we are to preserve and modernize this institution, if we are to make it, rather than break it," she said.