A pair of Chinese navy ships escorted past NATO's northern flank over the weekend reached Russian waters this week in a sign of solidarity between Beijing and Moscow.
The Type 052D guided-missile destroyer Jiaozuo, known by NATO as the Luyang III class, and the Type 903A replenishment ship Honghu are scheduled to join other Russian and foreign vessels in a naval parade on Sunday. The Jiaozuo, a 7,500-ton warship, is the most advanced naval asset China has sent to the celebrations to date.
Russia's Navy Day, traditionally observed on the last Sunday of July, will be downscaled this year over security concerns, according to officials in the host city of St. Petersburg. Top leaders, including President Vladimir Putin, typically watch the parade from the nearby island of Kronstadt.
The Jiaozuo and the Honghu were seen sailing past Denmark's Baltic islands on Saturday. The ships were part of an anti-piracy mission off the Horn of Africa, and they traversed the Mediterranean Sea to reach Russian shores on Monday.
In a Telegram post the following day, St. Petersburg's external relations committee said the Jiaozuo's commanding officer was greeted by city officials and the commander of the Leningrad Naval Base, part of Russia's Baltic Fleet.
Social media images showed the destroyer reaching the Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment before mooring on Vasilyevsky Island on the Neva River. The Honghu, the fleet logistics ship, was not mentioned in the post, but ship spotters photographed it near Kronstadt on Tuesday.
China's Defense Ministry did not respond to multiple requests for comment about the military exchange, but state broadcaster CCTV on Wednesday confirmed the Jiaozuo's weeklong visit.
The ship was welcomed by the Russian public and by overseas Chinese residents in St. Petersburg, including the staff of China's consulate there, according to the TV segment.
The Jiaozuo is scheduled to join a parade rehearsal on Thursday before taking part in the main event later this week. It is the first Chinese navy ship at the celebrations in five years, CCTV said.
China and Russia have taken part in dozens of military exchanges over the years. Recently, their joint exercises have become more sophisticated, involving specialized drills for their air force and naval platforms, especially in the Pacific region.
Russia's war in Ukraine has not deterred Beijing from growing its partnership with Moscow.
Russia's economy remains heavily reliant on the Baltic Sea for cargo shipments, while its navy relies on it for access to the wider Atlantic Ocean—although any movement is watched closely by nearby NATO member states.
Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, its Baltic Fleet garrison, is frequently surveilled from all sides.
On Weibo, China's main social media website, one commentator said of Beijing's decision to send a warship to St. Petersburg: "Chinese naval vessels have participated in Russia's Navy Day many times. But this time is different."
The user added: "After Finland and Sweden joined NATO, the Baltic Sea became NATO lake. To traverse NATO lake and reach the Neva River for Navy Day is a great achievement."
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