Fighters of the Air Self-Defense Forces of Japan were alerted because of the overflight by Russian and Chinese aircraft of the areas of the South China Sea, the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean. This was announced on November 19 by the Ministry of Defense of Japan.
"On Friday, November 19, two Chinese N-6 bombers and two Russian Tu-95 bombers flew over the area of the South China Sea, the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean. The self-Defense Forces alerted the fighters," the report says.
Earlier in the day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the successful joint patrolling of countries with China. It was clarified that the event was held as part of the implementation of the provisions of the military cooperation plan for 2021 and is not directed against third countries.
The Russian Defense Ministry has published footage of the third joint air patrol with China over the Japanese and East China Seas. In the published video, you can see how two strategic bombers "Hong-6k" of the Air Force (Air Force) of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA), as well as Russian Tu-95 took to the sky.
Prior to that, from October 14 to 17, Moscow and Beijing held operational-strategic exercises "Maritime Interaction – 2021" in the Sea of Japan. In particular, the crews of the ships of the two countries worked out joint tactical maneuvering, and carried out the blocking of the submarine of a conditional enemy in the designated area.
It was noted that warships and support vessels of the Pacific Fleet were involved from the Russian Navy, and the Chinese Naval Forces were represented by the destroyers "Kun Ming" and "Nan Chang", a complex supply ship, a rescue vessel, a diesel submarine, corvettes "Bin Zhou" and "Liu Zhou".