Russian and Chinese submarines have conducted their first-ever joint patrol in the Asia-Pacific, the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet said.

The Pacific Fleet said the patrol, which involved diesel-electric submarines, began in early August and followed the completion of Russian-Chinese naval exercises in the Sea of Japan, the Interfax news agency reported.

The strategic partners have conducted joint naval patrols before, but these were with surface-level vessels.

Earlier in August, the two navies conducted simulated submarine rescue operations as part of a bilateral war game before embarking on the joint patrol.

Those earlier joint drills had also seen a Chinese submarine deployed to Russian waters for the first time.

Russia and China have formed a quasi-alliance to challenge their m

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