Russian and Chinese strategic warplanes carried out joint patrols over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
The apparent show of force made aircraft, including the mighty Tupolev-160 long-range “bear” bombers, to cross the Pacific.
The South Korean military previously said it dispatched fighter jets when two Chinese and six Russian fighter jets entered its air defense zone. Moscow does not recognize the air territory of Korea and Beijing; said the area is not territorial airspace and all countries should enjoy freedom of movement there.
The Russian Defense Ministry said about the latest test that “at certain stages of the route, strategic missile carriers were accompanied by fighters of foreign states.”
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The Tupolev Tu-, known by NATO as “bear”, together with the Tu-160, is the backbone of Russia’s long-range nuclear airstrike forces. It was designed to drop nuclear bombs on the United States in the Cold War.
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force also sent fighter jets after Chinese bombers flew from the East China Sea to the Sea of Japan, where they were joined by two Russian drones, the Tokyo Defense Ministry later said in a press release.
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