（Yu-cheng Chen, Associate Professor of the Graduate Institute of China Military Affairs Studies at Fu Hsing Kang College, National Defense University）
The Joint Staff Office of Japan's Ministry of Defense announced on July 5 that four Chinese and Russia naval vessels passed through the Osumi Strait off the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture on July 4 and 5 to conduct a joint voyage toward the Pacific Ocean. According to analysts, this was the fourth joint maritime patrol conducted by the two sides. It was also the first time that they ventured into the waters of the South China Sea. The joint maritime patrol ended on July 16.
Besides joint operations at sea, another important military development between China and Russia was their joint air strategic patrol near Alaska. Two Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers and two People’s Liberation Army (PLA) H-6 strategic bombers conducted an air patrol over the Chukchi Sea, the Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean on July 25 near the US State of Alaska. China's Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Chinese and Russian militaries conducted an air strategic patrol in the airspace around the Bering Sea in accordance with their annual cooperation plan. China also claimed that the operation did not direct at any third party. This marked the eighth air strategic patrol conducted by the two militaries since 2019, aiming to enhance the level of cooperation between the air forces of the two countries and deepen strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation. Although the operation remained in international airspace, Chinese and Russia aircraft did fly over Alaska's air defense identification zone, causing concerns in the United States and Canada. The U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the operation did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace and did not pose a threat to the United States. However, it is noteworthy that China and Russia have strengthened their military coordination.
From a military perspective, the operation is regarded as an upgrade in military cooperation between the two countries as it was the first time that Chinese and Russian bombers took off from the same Russia base to conduct a joint air patrol near Alaska and the North Pacific. This reflects that the two militaries have enhanced their capability to conduct joint operations. The following few points are worthy of notice from a military point of view.
First, the two militaries must be able to achieve a high degree of coordination in operational planning to ensure that they carried out the patrol in accordance with the same operational plan. For example, for PLA bombers to take off from a Russia base, it required detailed planning in advance by the two sides, including flight paths, fuel replenishment, airspace management and other issues. This kind of coordination ensures that the two sides can cooperate seamlessly during joint operations and quickly respond to any possible contingencies.
Second, in such a joint operation, the interoperability of communications systems is crucial. This means that PLA and Russia forces must be able to use each other's communications equipment and networks to share information and commands in real time. Despite the fact that it is unclear how they exchanged data, this reflects the two militaries are improving interoperability at the tactical execution level. They tried to reach training goals similar to those of participating troops or allied forces in the United States’ Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. According to publicly available information, Russia said that its Su-30SM and Su-35S fighters participated in the patrol. It is unclear whether Moscow also sent AWACS or other aircraft. To some extent, more types of aircraft participating in the operation required more sophisticated command and control capability.
Third, according to publicly available information from the United States and Canada, the Chinese military’s H-6 strategic bombers were able to refuel at a Russian base and carry out logistical operation needed for a long-range patrol mission. This requires comprehensive logistical coordination between the two sides. For example, base facilities provided by Russia must meet the technical requirements of PLA aircraft. This means that the two sides need to meet operational standards in logistics management and infrastructure compatibility.
Fourth, The United States faces a growing nuclear threat from China. Recently, the United States has paid close attention to China’s development of nuclear weapons. The joint patrol conducted by Chinese and Russian bombers near Alaska further highlights this threat. It is worth noticing that China’s nuclear-capable H-6 strategic bombers took off from a Russian air base and flew to a location about 200 miles off the coast of Alaska. This reveals that China possesses certain capability to conduct nuclear strikes from the air and partly reflects why the United States has been worried about China's expansion of nuclear capability in recent years.
The joint air patrol is part of a strengthened effort to test and enhance the level of cooperation between the air forces of the two countries, seeking to demonstrate their growing military cooperation. Such cooperation between China and Russia to a certain extent reflects the exacerbation of great power competition, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. Moreover, Chinese experts’ research and discussion conclude the need to counter Washington’s security cooperation framework in the Indo-Pacific region. The 35-day RIMPAC 2024 started on June 26 this year near Hawaii and the Pearl Harbor with a record 29 countries participating. During the exercise, the sinking of the decommissioned USS Tarawa, an amphibious assault ship, was seen as targeting the PLA Navy’s large surface ships. It is obvious that joint military activities between China and Russia not only intend to direct at third parties but also at U.S. military presence in the Indo-Pacific region, highlighting military competition between great powers.
（Translated to English by Cindy Li）
