China and Russia stage first joint bomber patrol near Alaska

The patrol comes amid US warnings of deepening ties between China and Russia.

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The two countries have carried out several joint patrols in the past, and Russia regularly flies its bombers over the Bering Sea.

But Wednesday’s joint patrol was the first that brought together bombers from both countries in the north Pacific area.

Moscow and Beijing said it was "not aimed at any third party", while the US-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said the bombers, which it intercepted, stayed in international airspace and were “not seen as a threat”.

But Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski described the event as an “unprecedented provocation by our adversaries”, adding that it was “the first time they have been intercepted operating together.”

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9x22k5qv2o

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