Russia and China to Conduct Annual Joint Coast Guard Exercises

Admiral Roman Tolok, head of the Coast Guard Department of the Russian Federal Border Guard Service, announced that the joint exercise of the Russian and Chinese coast guards, “Pacific Patrol,” will be held annually.

The Russian coast guard will visit one of the Chinese ports to conduct the exercise next year. According to Admiral Tolok, future training missions will become more complex, reflecting the evolving nature of maritime security challenges.

This exercise marks the first time the Chinese Coast Guard, rather than the Chinese Navy, has participated in a joint exercise with Russia in Vladivostok.

The “Pacific Patrol” Exercise Scenario

The “Pacific Patrol” exercise was conducted according to a scenario in which the Chinese Coast Guard received information through an automatic information exchange system about a ship flying the flag of an Oceanian country, bound for Vladivostok, which had entered the Sea of Japan through the Korea Strait.

The crew members of the suspected ship had previously been involved in smuggling weapons, ammunition, and military equipment, raising concerns that they might be carrying smuggled goods on board.

Joint Patrol and Search Operations

A naval group was formed, consisting of three Russian Coast Guard ships: “Skipper Gek” (the flagship), “Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky” with a helicopter on board, and “Nakhodka.” Two Chinese Coast Guard ships, “Meishan” and “Xiushan,” carrying helicopters, also participated in the joint patrol and search for the suspected violating ship.