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[Global Times reporter Guo Yuandan] On the 25th, the Ministry of National Defense spokesman Zhang Xiaogang confirmed at the July regular press conference that China and Russia organized the eighth air strategic cruise on the 25th. In response to questions from the Global Times, Zhang Xiaogang said that according to the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries, on July 25, the two sides organized a joint air strategic cruise in the relevant airspace of the Bering Sea. This is the eighth air strategic cruise organized by the two militaries since 2019. It further tests and improves the level of cooperation between the two air forces and deepens the strategic mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries.

Chinese bombers enter Alaska airspace for first time

The Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Russian Tu-95MS bombers and Chinese Air Force H-6K bombers conducted joint patrols over the Chukchi Sea, the Bering Sea and the northern Pacific Ocean. Russian military sources said that during the flight, Russian and Chinese crews practiced mutual cooperation at all stages of air patrols. The joint cruise was escorted by Russian Aerospace Forces Su-30SM and Su-35S.

The Russian Defense Ministry said: "The joint flight of Russian and Chinese aircraft lasted more than five hours, and at some stages of the route, foreignfighterAircraft from both countries flew with us.”

On July 25, the Chinese and Russian militaries organized the eighth joint strategic air cruise. The picture shows a formation of Chinese and Russian air force bombers flying over the relevant airspace of the Bering Sea. Photo by Wu Yuepeng

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) issued a statement on the 24th local time, saying that two Russian and two Chinese military aircraft were found in international airspace near Alaska that day. "NORAD discovered, tracked and intercepted two Russian Tu-95 aircraft and two Chinese H-6 military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone." The statement also stated that the Chinese and Russian military aircraft had been flying in international airspace and had not entered the airspace of the United States or Canada, and "were not considered a threat."

According to CNN, a US Department of Defense official said this marked the first time the H-6 bomber entered the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone.

"This is the first time that US fighter jets have intercepted Chinese bombers on a strategic cruise near their own country." Chinese military expert Zhang Xuefeng said in an interview with the Global Times on the 25th that this is also the first time that Chinese bombers have flown near Alaska.

According to reports, the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone covers a very wide area, covering part of the Beaufort Sea on the edge of the Arctic Ocean to the north and a considerable part of the Bering Sea to the south. "As of now (press release), the US has not disclosed in which airspace it intercepted the Chinese and Russian fighter jets. What is certain is that this is the farthest distance from the Chinese mainland that Chinese bombers have carried out strategic cruise missions. This is the first time but it will not be the last time," Zhang Xuefeng analyzed.

Zhang Xuefeng said that after continuous upgrades and improvements, the performance of the H-6 has been greatly improved. It can carry long-range ground-attack missiles and conduct ground and sea strikes outside the interception radius of enemy fighter jets. Its air-launched missiles have the advantages of long range and strong penetration capability. Moreover, its latest model can be refueled in the air, further increasing its air deterrence radius.

China-Russia joint strategic air cruise held for the first time in relevant airspace

In July 2019, China and Russia organized their first joint strategic air cruise in Northeast Asia. Since then, the frequency of joint strategic air cruises has been maintained once a year in 2020 and 2021. This frequency has increased in 2022, with the fourth and fifth joint strategic air cruises carried out in May and November 2022, respectively. In June and December 2023, China and Russia successively carried out joint strategic air cruises, indicating that the joint strategic air cruises of the Chinese and Russian militaries twice a year have become the norm.

CNN reported that it is not uncommon for Russian aircraft to enter the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, but it is the first time that the Chinese and Russian militaries have conducted joint operations in the airspace. U.S. Department of Defense officials said that this is the first time that the U.S. military has intercepted a joint operation between the two countries in the airspace. U.S. Department of Defense officials said that the interception was carried out by the U.S.F-16The intercept was carried out by US and F-35 fighter jets and Canadian CF-18 fighter jets. The US official said support aircraft also participated in the intercept.

According to information previously released by the Chinese Ministry of Defense, the joint air strategic cruises previously organized by China and Russia were mostly carried out over the Sea of ​​Japan, the East China Sea, and the Western Pacific Ocean. "It is very likely that Chinese bombers will take off from the Russian mainland during this cruise." Zhang Xuefeng said. November 2022. When the Chinese and Russian air forces were carrying out routine joint air strategic cruises, Chinese and Russian military aircraft landed at each other's airports for the first time in history during joint air patrols. "China and Russia have sent bombers to take off and land at each other's airports, laying a solid foundation for this Chinese and Russian fighter jets to cruise in the international airspace near Alaska. This shows that the Chinese and Russian air force task forces have achieved a high degree of compatibility in command coordination, communications, and logistics support."

Chinese naval and air forces are present in the Bering Sea

On July 10, the U.S. Coast Guard website released a statement saying that on July 6 and 7, local time, the U.S. Coast Guard spotted multiple Chinese warships in the Bering Sea near Alaska for two consecutive days. In response, Zhang Xiaogang said that this was a routine training activity carried out by Chinese ships in accordance with the annual plan, which was in line with relevant international laws and practices, and was aimed at improving and testing combat training levels, and was not aimed at specific countries or targets. "In the future, China will also carry out similar far sea training activities to enhance the troops' ability to perform their missions."

A few days before China and Russia carried out the eighth joint strategic air cruise, the US Department of Defense released the "Arctic Strategy 2024" on the 22nd, describing the Arctic as a "region of great strategic significance" for the United States. At a briefing that day, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Hicks declared that "although China is not an Arctic country, it seeks to have greater influence in the region, more channels to enter the region, and more say in regional governance." Hicks also said that the increasing commercial and military cooperation between China and Russia in the Arctic has caused concern to the United States.

In response to a question from the Global Times about whether the China-Russia joint strategic air cruise was targeted, Zhang Xiaogang said that the action was not aimed at any third party and had nothing to do with the current international and regional situation.

Some US media have hyped that the arrival of Chinese and Russian military aircraft in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone is a "provocation". Zhang Xuefeng questioned why they took it for granted when US aircraft frequently flew thousands of miles to near Chinese airspace. "Moreover, the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone is not US airspace. It extends hundreds of kilometers beyond the coastline. The flight of Chinese aircraft in the relevant airspace is completely in line with international law and international military practice."