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Russian, Chinese strategic bombers conduct joint air patrol in Asia-Pacific region

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 22 December 2020 7:28 PM

Russian and Chinese strategic bombers have carried out a joint air patrol over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, the second such operation in Asia-Pacific region over the past year.

Russia's Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that two Russian Tu-95MS and four Chinese H-6K strategic bombers had conducted the joint operation over the area.

"The Russian Aerospace Force and the Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army conducted the second joint air patrol by long-range aircraft in the Asia-Pacific Region," the ministry said in a statement.

"The air group consisting of two Tu-95MS strategic bombers of Russia's Aerospace Force and four Hong-6K strategic bombers of the Air Force of China's People's Liberation Army conducted the air patrol over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea," it added.

Russia's Defense Ministry said the joint operation was conducted as part of implementing the provisions of the 2020 military cooperation plan and was not "aimed against third countries."

"The air patrols are carried out to deepen and develop the Russian-Chinese relations, raise the level of interaction between the armed forces of both countries and improve their capabilities for conducting joint measures and strengthening global strategic stability," the ministry stressed.

The ministry also underlined that the Russian and Chinese aircraft operated in strict compliance with the provisions of international law, saying, "There were no violations of the airspace of foreign states."

The ministry statement came after South Korea said it had scrambled fighter jets in response to an "intrusion" into its air defense identification zone by Russian and Chinese military aircraft.

The South Korean military later said the Chinese military had informed South Korea that its aircraft were carrying out routine training before the aircraft entered the strategic zone.

"This incident seems to be a joint military drill between China and Russia but it requires a further analysis," the South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement.

Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday that South Korea's foreign ministry had contacted China and Russia and warned them of a recurrence.

In July 2019, South Korean warplanes fired hundreds of warning shots toward Russian military aircraft on a joint air patrol with China when they entered South Korean airspace.

South Korea and Japan, which both scrambled jets to intercept the patrol at the time, accused Russia and China of violating their airspace. Moscow and Beijing rejected the allegation.