31 July
The commander of the US Pacific Air Forces has expressed strong concern over joint military activities by Russia and China in the Asia-Pacific region.
In a speech in Washington on Tuesday, General Charles Q. Brown referred to what Russia described as joint bomber patrols with China in the Sea of Japan last week.
Brown said bombers from the two countries flew together and penetrated South Korea's air defense identification zone. He called the incident "a potential harbinger of things that could happen in the future."
Brown also said collaboration between Russia and China will make it more challenging for the US and its allies, and that it could drive a wedge in the relationship among the US, Japan and South Korea.
General Brown alleged that Moscow may have obtained diplomatic clearance from Beijing before Russia circumnavigated Taiwan with a bomber. He said although China is the chief US concern, its cooperation with Russia is also "something to pay attention to.
NHK
