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

The Russian and Chinese strategic bombers did not intrude into the airspace of foreign states in their joint air patrol over the waters of the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea

MOSCOW, May 24. /TASS/. An air task force composed of Russian Tu-95MS and Chinese H-6K strategic bombers conducted a joint air patrol over the waters of the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.

"The Russian Aerospace Force and the Air Force of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army conducted a joint air patrol in the Asia-Pacific region. The air task force composed of Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying bombers of the Russian Aerospace Force and Hong-6K strategic bombers of the Air Force of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army conducted a joint air patrol over the waters of the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea," the ministry said in a statement.

Russian Su-30SM jets provided fighter support for the air task force during the joint air patrol, the ministry added.

"At some sections of the route, the strategic missile-carrying bombers were escorted by F-2 aircraft of the South Korean Air Force and F-15 jets of the Japanese Air Force," the ministry said.

The Russian and Chinese strategic bombers did not intrude into the airspace of foreign states in their joint air patrol over the waters of the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, it emphasized.

"In the process of accomplishing their tasks, the aircraft of both countries operated strictly in compliance with the provisions of international law. There were no violations of the airspace of foreign states," the statement reads.

The joint air patrolling by the Russian and Chinese strategic bombers was conducted under the 2022 plan of military cooperation and was not aimed against third countries, the ministry stressed.

The flight by the Russian strategic missile-carrying bombers lasted about 13 hours, the ministry specified.

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