In November 2025, secret joint exercises between Russia and China took place at a closed military facility in Beijing. The event, officially denied by both sides, has caused serious concern in Europe and confirmed the existence of deep military integration between the two countries.
Generals in the shadows: who participated in the exercises
According to sources from Reuters agency, at least four generals — both Russian and Chinese — participated in the exercises. Their presence at the event came as a surprise to Western analysts, as the official position of Beijing and Moscow is a complete denial of such contacts.
Particular attention is drawn to the fact that the preparation was personally approved by the Russian Minister of Defense, Andrey Belousov. An internal document, which the publication reviewed, contains a direct reference to an order from August 2025, according to which a delegation of the Russian Armed Forces traveled to China to participate in exercises at facilities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).
What Russian military personnel studied in China
One of the key elements of the program was a three-week seminar dedicated to radiological, chemical, and biological protection. Russian military personnel listened to lectures by Chinese instructors, inspected a model of a nuclear reactor, and studied issues of chemical and radiation reconnaissance, as well as methods for protecting ventilation systems from contamination.
Two reports available to Reuters contain photographs of Russian military personnel during the sessions. The photos show them attentively listening to lectures and inspecting technical models.
Western reaction and official denials
Information about high-ranking officials at the exercises caused alarm in Europe. However, Beijing still denies the fact of holding such events. Russian President's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov also stated that there was no secret training of Russian servicemen in China.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the information about secret training of Russian military personnel an attempt to shift the blame for the war in Ukraine. Nevertheless, in the spring of 2025, Reuters learned that China secretly trained about 200 Russian occupiers on its territory at the end of 2025. Some of them later returned to fight against Ukraine. This was later confirmed by the EU and NATO.
Why this is important
Secret exercises between Russia and China in Beijing are not just a formality. This is a signal that military cooperation between the two countries goes beyond official statements. Even if Beijing and Moscow continue to deny these facts, the presence of generals and specific training programs speaks to the seriousness of their intentions.
For Europe and NATO, this means that it is necessary to reconsider their strategies regarding Russia and China. Secret exercises could become a precedent for further escalation of the conflict and complicate diplomatic efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine.
