Russian and Chinese Strategic Bombers on Patrol Near Alaska

The bombers were intercepted by North American and Canadian planes, revealed the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

According to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, "a group consisting of TU-95MS strategic bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces and Xian H-6K strategic bombers of the Chinese Air Force carried out a joint patrol over the Chukchi Sea, the Bering Sea and the northern part of the Pacific Ocean".

China said the joint patrol with Russia near Alaska did not target "any third country."

"This action does not target third parties, is in line with international law and has nothing to do with the current international and regional situation," said Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, adding that the patrol "tests and improves the level of cooperation between the two air forces".

The Russian ministry said that "fighters from foreign governments" had accompanied the group "at certain stages of the trip" and that the patrol lasted more than five hours.

"During the flight, Russian and Chinese crews, in a new area of ​​joint operations, worked on issues related to cooperation in all phases of an air patrol," the Russian ministry said.

Previously, NORAD, made up of Canada and the United States, indicated that North American and Canadian fighters spotted and intercepted two Russian TU-95s and two Chinese H-6s.

The bombers "did not enter American or Canadian airspace" and their activity was not "considered a threat", NORAD added.

Interceptions of Russian planes are relatively frequent in this area. Moscow and Beijing, which aim to counter the liberal order, led by the US, now regularly carry out these types of joint exercises in other areas of the Pacific.

Strategic bombers are capable of carrying out long-range nuclear and conventional attacks.

On Sunday, Russia declared that it had sent fighters to prevent two North American strategic bombers from crossing its border over the Barents Sea, in the Arctic.

On Monday, the Pentagon warned against closer cooperation between Russia and China in the Arctic at a time when climate change is opening the region to greater competition for shipping routes and resources.