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Chinese-Russian patrols not directed against third countries — defense official

It has nothing to do with the current international and regional situation, Defense Ministry Spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said

BEIJING, December 1. /TASS/. Joint patrols of the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force in the Asia-Pacific region are of a routine nature, Defense Ministry Spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said.

"The joint Chinese-Russian strategic air patrol is a routine process in the implementation of the annual cooperation plan. It is not directed against third countries and has nothing to do with the current international and regional situation," the Chinese defense official said.

Earlier, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces and the People's Liberation Army Air Force conducted joint patrols in the western Pacific. It was the ninth joint strategic air patrol in the Sea of Japan. During the maneuvers, Russian aircraft landed and took off from an airfield in China. The joint flight of the Russian and Chinese aircraft lasted about eight hours. During the flight, the crews of the Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers carried out aerial refueling at night. It is reported that at certain stages of the route the strategic missile carriers were escorted by fighter jets of foreign states.

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