Russian and Chinese Aircraft Conduct Joint Patrol

Russian and Chinese warplanes conducted a joint patrol over the western Pacific on November 30. For the first time, Russian aircraft landed in Chinese airfields and vice versa.

• According to the Russian Ministry, Russian Tu-95 bombers and the Chinese H-6K bombers flew over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.
• The mission lasted eight hours.
• China’s Defense Ministry said the patrols were a “routine” part of an annual military exercise between the two countries.
• The bombers entered South Korea’s and Japan’s air defense zones, causing both nations to assemble fighter jets in case of an emergency.

A senior United States defense official told reporters that Russian and Chinese joint military exercises are often “a means of signaling their closer alignment and sending a message to the U.S. and to other countries.”

• Military cooperation between the two countries has grown since the war in Ukraine began.
• China’s friendship with Russia has “no limits,” a joint statement said in February.

Third wheel: China is not the only nation in close cooperation with Russia. On November 29, Laos and Russia began joint military drills, a Russian news agency reported.

The aim of the Laros 2022 joint drills is to develop friendship between two fraternal peoples and the armed forces of both states. Military cooperation helps improve the defense potential of both countries.
—Phanseng Bunphan, Laotian lieutenant-general

Prophecy says: An alliance among the nations of Asia is taking shape. The Bible calls this alliance “the kings of the east” (Revelation 16:12). Russia and China will be the key players (Ezekiel 38), but other Asian nations will join. Read our Trends article “Why the Trumpet Watches Russia Allying With China.”