Russia and China Conduct First Joint Bomber Patrol Near Alaska

Russia and China flew strategic bombers in a joint patrol exercise near Alaska, the first time they had conducted air drills together in that area, a pointed signal to Washington of their deepening military ties.

Two Russian Tu-95 bombers and two Chinese Xian H-6 planes flew over the waters of the Chukchi and Bering seas, with Russian fighter jets guiding them, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday in a statement. The joint flight lasted longer than five hours, the ministry added. It took place on Wednesday.

“During the flight, Russian and Chinese crews worked through issues of cooperation at all stages of the air patrol in a new area of joint operations,” the Russian Defense Ministry said. The ministry said the drill was “not directed against third countries.”

The exercise prompted the United States and Canada to scramble their fighter jets to carry out what is known as an “intercept” in military parlance, or when a country flies its jets alongside foreign aircraft as a show of defense.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a Pentagon news conference that the aircraft were “closely monitored” and didn’t enter our airspace. I think the closest point of approach was about 200 miles off of our coast.”

The joint air drills near Alaska, involving bombers capable of delivering nuclear missiles, come as President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia deepens his military’s ties with China, in part as a signal to the West that he will not remain isolated over his invasion of Ukraine. In addition to other joint drills and sales of Russian arms to China, Mr. Putin has grown to rely on a flow of dual-use goods from China to sustain his war effort.