Five Chinese naval ships entered the Sea of Japan heading in the direction of Russia over the weekend, Tokyo said after Beijing announced joint military drills with Moscow. The Japanese defense ministry “confirmed that these vessels sailed north-eastwards through the Tsushima Strait towards the Sea of Japan from Saturday to Sunday”,

China’s Defense Ministry has announced joint naval and air drills with Russia starting this month, underscoring the closeness between their militaries as Russia presses its grinding invasion of Ukrain

China announced plans for joint military drills with Russia, titled "North-Joint 2024," to be held in the skies and seas around the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk this month, according to the Chinese Ministry of Defense.

China has announced it will conduct joint military exercises with Russia later this month. Beijing confirmed that its objective is to "advance bilateral cooperation" between the countries. NATO is increasingly accusing China of supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine.