The Chinese and Russian Militaries Organize and Conduct the 11th Joint Air Strategic Patrol

On June 27, Chinese and Russian air forces conducted their 11th joint air strategic patrol over the Sea of Japan, East China Sea, and western Pacific — the latest iteration of a recurring bilateral demonstration that began in 2019. The patrol extends a documented pattern of Sino-Russian air coordination in contested maritime airspace adjacent to Japan and the Korean Peninsula, confirming the exercise series has continued without interruption despite broader geopolitical friction; the specific route — spanning three distinct airspace zones — raises the question of whether the geographic scope is expanding relative to earlier patrols.