Russian and Chinese planes patrol the skies of East Asia, capping off Biden’s trip

The flags of China and Russia are shown in this illustration image taken on March 24, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration

May 24 (Reuters) – Russian and Chinese military planes held joint exercises to patrol the Asia-Pacific region on Tuesday in a pointed farewell to U.S. President Joe Biden as he wrapped up a trip to Asia that angered Beijing.

Japan sent planes after Russian and Chinese warplanes closed in on its airspace as Tokyo hosted leaders of the Quad group of countries, which includes the United States, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said, calling the move provocation. read more

It was the first joint Chinese-Russian military exercise since Moscow invaded Ukraine on February 24, according to a US official, and came at the end of Biden’s four-day trip.

“We think it shows that China continues to be willing to align itself closely with Russia, including through military cooperation,” a senior administration official said, adding that such moves need to be planned well in advance. read more

“China is not walking away from Russia. Instead, the exercise shows that China is ready to help Russia defend its east while Russia fights in its west,” the official said.

Biden emphasized during the trip, intended in part to counter China’s growing influence in the region, that the United States will support its allies and partners in pushing for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Beijing and Moscow declared an “unlimited” partnership just weeks before Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, and China has refused to condemn the move.

The joint patrol lasted 13 hours over the Japan and East China seas and involved Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers and Chinese Xian H-6 jets, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Aircraft from the Japanese and South Korean air forces shadowed the Russian and Chinese jets during part of the exercise, he said.

Tokyo conveyed “serious concerns” to both Russia and China through diplomatic channels, Kishi told a news conference.

He called the incident a likely provocation by both Beijing and Moscow on a day when Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australia’s newly elected leader Anthony Albanese were meeting in Tokyo.

“We think the fact that this action was taken during the Quad summit makes it more provocative than in the past,” he said, adding that it was the fourth such incident since November.

Chinese warships likely took part in the joint exercise, a US official said.

China’s Defense Ministry confirmed the joint air patrol over the Sea of ​​Japan, East China Sea and Western Pacific, calling it part of an annual military exercise. read more

On Monday, Biden angered China by saying he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan, but then said US policy toward the self-governing democratic island had not changed. China considers Taiwan an inalienable part of its territory that must be reunified with the mainland.

Tuesday’s drill was the first reported since South Korea’s new president, Yoon Suk-yeol, took office on May 10. On Sunday, Yoon wrapped up his summit with Biden, where the two leaders vowed to support measures seen as countering China’s influence in the region, and criticized Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The South Korean military said it disabled fighter jets after at least four Chinese and four Russian fighter jets entered its air defense zone. read more

The Russian and Chinese aircraft entered and exited the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (Korea ADIZ) in the Sea of ​​Japan, known in Korea as the East Sea, several times during the day, according to the Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff. from the south.

The plane, which included fighters and bombers from each side, did not violate South Korean airspace, it said.

South Korea received no warning about the apparent drills, a military source in Seoul said. When Seoul saw that the plane appeared to be heading towards the defense zone, it used hotlines to warn its Chinese and Russian counterparts, the source said.

China responded that it was a regular exercise, the source added, while Russia did not reply.

Unlike airspace, an air defense identification zone, or ADIZ, is typically an area where countries can unilaterally require foreign aircraft to take special steps to identify themselves, with no international laws governing ADIZs.

Reporting by Nobuhiro Kubo Satoshi Sugiyama in Tokyo, Michael Martina in Washington, Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith in Seoul, Reuters bureau; Written by Doina Chiacu; Edited by Chizu Nomiyama and Jonathan Oatis

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