Moscow. November 19. INTERFAX - The joint flight of Russian and Chinese strategic aircraft over the Japanese and East China Seas, as well as the recent naval exercises, are a demonstration of strength and a signal for the United States and Japan, retired Colonel General Leonid Ivashov, former head of the Main Directorate for International Military Cooperation of the Russian Defense Ministry, told Interfax on Friday.
"This is, first of all, a signal for the United States and Japan," he said.
"I don't see anything unusual in conducting such a joint patrol. As far as I understand, these flights are carried out without weapons. What was the root cause of the fact that Russia and China have intensified joint actions? These are the steps of the United States, which, together with Great Britain and Australia, have practically created a new military-political alliance AUKUS," Ivashov said.
"Another threat is emerging from Japan. The new Prime Minister of Japan recently stated that Tokyo's sovereignty extends to the southern Kuril Islands. Japan adjusts its society accordingly, develops its armed forces and builds up groups," Ivashov said.
"The situation forces us to take measures, including joint ones. This is not done to provoke a conflict. We take preventive actions, show readiness. Joint patrolling of strategic aviation is a planned training of the Armed Forces of Russia and China. But these plans are combined under the current situation," Ivashov said.
The Russian Defense Ministry on Friday announced the third joint patrol in recent years in the Asia-Pacific region with the participation of two Russian strategic missile carriers-Tu-95MS bombers and two Chinese strategic bombers "Hong-6K".
