The Russian Ministry of Defense said that the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force conducted a joint patrol lasting about 6 hours in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Russian Aerospace Forces and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force have conducted another joint air patrol in the Asia-Pacific region. The formation including Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers and Chinese H-6Ks has performed patrol missions in the Sea of Japan, East China Sea and the western Pacific region. The joint patrol lasted about 6 hours" - the Russian Ministry of Defense statement stated.
Throughout the patrol journey, strategic bombers are escorted and protected on the entire flight path by Russian Su-30SM and Su-35S fighters and Chinese J-16 fighters. On some stages of the journey, fighters from some other countries fly to monitor and escort strategic bombers.
The Russian Ministry of Defense emphasized that in the process of performing missions, Russian and Chinese aircraft operated completely in accordance with international law. "There was no act of encroachment on foreign airspace," the statement added.
After completing the joint patrol mission, all participating aircraft returned to base. The Russian Ministry of Defense affirmed that this operation was carried out according to the bilateral military cooperation plan this year and "not aimed at any third country".
