Russian and Chinese bombers conducted their first joint flight in international airspace off the coast of Alaska, marking a significant step in their expanding military cooperation, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed concerns about this development on Thursday.
The flights, which took place on Wednesday, were monitored by U.S. and Canadian fighter jets, and although not deemed a direct threat, it was notable as it marked the first time Chinese bombers entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Additionally, this was the first instance of Chinese and Russian aircraft departing from the same base in northeast Russia.
"This is a relationship that we have been concerned about throughout, particularly because we are worried about China providing support to Russia's illegal and unnecessary war in Ukraine," Austin stated during a press briefing.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and intercepted the two Russian Tupolev Tu-95 long-range bombers along with two Chinese H-6 bombers. Austin noted that these aircraft did not enter U.S. airspace and were approximately 200 miles off the coast, yet they were within the ADIZ, where aircraft must be identifiable and file flight plans for national security reasons.
Both China and Russia confirmed what they termed a joint patrol over the Bering Sea, which separates Russia and Alaska. Their deepening military partnership has raised alarms among NATO allies and countries in the Asia-Pacific region. NATO members have characterized China as a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, owing to its extensive support for Russia’s defense capabilities.
The Russian Defense Ministry indicated that the joint patrol also traversed the Chukchi Sea, north of the Bering Strait, and lasted over five hours. Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China’s Defense Ministry, stated that the patrol aimed to test and enhance coordination between the two air forces, marking the eighth joint strategic air patrol since 2019. He refrained from commenting on whether it was the first such patrol over the Bering Sea.
While Russia has historically been active in the North Pacific, China has increasingly expanded its military presence in recent years, enhancing its navy and air force capabilities. Shen Yi, an international politics professor at Fudan University, noted that the Chinese flights serve to demonstrate their strategic deterrent capabilities, carrying symbolic weight in the context of U.S.-China relations.
“China is enhancing its ability to engage in effective strategic maneuvers with the United States and to maintain strategic stability,” Shen wrote. “As this system continues to improve, it can effectively deter the U.S.”
Images released by the Russian Defense Ministry depicted a Russian Su-30 fighter jet escorting a Chinese bomber, while Chinese state broadcaster CCTV shared visuals of the Russian and Chinese bombers flying in parallel formation against clear skies.
The Japanese military has expressed increasing concern regarding the implications of joint China-Russia military exercises for regional security. Last December, a fleet of Russian and Chinese warplanes, including Tu-95s and H-6s, was observed flying together in the waters between Japan and Korea, which China described as their seventh joint strategic air patrol.
Additionally, Chinese naval vessels have been spotted in international waters near Alaska, with the most recent sighting occurring in mid-July when the Coast Guard identified four ships within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, which extends 200 nautical miles from the coast. Zhang characterized this naval activity as routine combat readiness training, asserting that China will continue its far-seas training to enhance its military capabilities.
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