Japan said on Friday it was sending fighter jets after two Russian IL-38 information gathering aircraft were spotted flying between the Seas of Japan and the East China Sea where Russia is holding joint naval patrols and exercises with China.
Russian and Chinese naval vessels have carried out joint patrols in the Pacific Ocean and held naval exercises in the East China Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
“In the East China Sea, drills were carried out to fill ships with water and fuel supplies from support vessels,” the ministry said.
“A detachment of ships of the Russian Navy and PLA Navy (China People’s Liberation Army) are currently operating in the waters of the East China Sea and have traveled more than 6,400 nautical miles since the start of the patrol,” the statement continued.
Russia and China also carried out anti-submarine drills, repelled simulated enemy airstrikes, carried out sea rescue drills and practiced helicopter takeoffs and landings on the decks of warships, the ministry added.
The Russian air force activity came a day after Japan spotted Russian and Chinese naval vessels crossing the waters between the southern Japanese islands of Okinawa and Miyako.
Source : Antara News
