Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang stated on Wednesday that the joint air patrols conducted by China and Russia reflect the two nations' commitment to safeguarding regional peace and stability.
The statement followed an announcement by the Russian Defense Ministry on Tuesday, which announced that a formation of Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers from the Russian Aerospace Forces and Hun-6K strategic bombers from the Chinese Air Force carried out coordinated air patrols over the waters of the Japanese and East China Seas, as well as the western Pacific Ocean.
The patrols were conducted within the framework of the China-Russia military cooperation plan for 2025 and, according to both sides, were not aimed at any third country.
"This joint strategic air patrol, which is an event within the framework of the annual cooperation plan, demonstrates the determination and ability of both sides to jointly meet the challenges of regional security and maintain regional peace and stability," the spokesman said in a statement.
In response to the joint exercises, Japan scrambled fighter jets, the Japanese Defense Ministry announced late on Tuesday. The development comes amid heightened regional tensions in the East China Sea.
According to the ministry, two Russian Tu-95 nuclear-capable strategic bombers "entered from the Sea of Japan and proceeded toward the East China Sea", where they joined two Chinese H-6 bombers. The aircraft conducted what was described as a “long-distance joint flight” over the Pacific Ocean.
Four Chinese J-16 fighter jets joined the patrol, escorting the bombers on a round-trip flight between Okinawa and Miyako islands.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi denounced the operations on X, stating that the joint patrols were "clearly intended as a show of force against our nation, which is a serious concern for our national security," adding that Japan’s jets "strictly implemented air defense identification measures" in response.
Russian media, citing Moscow’s Defense Ministry, reported that the joint flight near Japan lasted around eight hours, reflecting a broader trend of increased China-Russia military cooperation, including joint anti-missile drills on Russian soil and live-fire naval exercises in the South China Sea.
Beijing’s increased military assertiveness in the region follows recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who stated that Tokyo may respond to any alleged Chinese military action against Taiwan if it threatens Japan’s security.
This comes after China and Russia held their third joint anti-missile exercise on Russian territory earlier this month.
Both sides emphasized that the drills “do not target any third party” and are “not related to the current international and regional situation,” according to a statement from China’s Ministry of National Defense.
The exercise highlights the continued deepening of Sino-Russian military cooperation, following previous joint operations and ongoing discussions on missile defense and strategic coordination.
While the drills are defensive, they also serve to signal the two countries’ growing interoperability and alignment on regional security matters.