China and Russia’s air forces conducted a joint aerial patrol on Tuesday over the Sea of Japan, East China Sea and the Western Pacific, China’s defence ministry said.
The patrol, the first since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was part of an annual military exercise, the ministry said on its official website.
The two countries had previously held such patrols in 2019, 2020 and 2021 but in the latter half of the year.
Russia has faced a barrage of sanctions from Western countries over its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, which it calls a “special military operation”. Beijing has not condemned Russia’s attack and does not call it an invasion, but has urged a negotiated solution.
VIDEO: Chinese H-6K bombers and Russian Tu-95MS bombers conducted regular joint strategic patrols above the Sea of Japan, E.China Sea and West Pacific on Tue. The aircraft abided by intl regulations and did not violate any other country's airspace: Russian Defense Ministry pic.twitter.com/771mVKjqW0
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) May 24, 2022
— AlJazeera
