China and Russia declared a "no limits" partnership when President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing in 2022, just days before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The two countries carried out live-fire naval exercises in the South China Sea in July.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on Monday described as "very worrisome" the presence of a Russian attack submarine off the country's coast in the disputed South China Sea.

President Bongbong Marcos says the recent sighting of a Russian attack submarine in the West Philippine Sea is "very worrisome."