Russia and China conducted a joint bomber flight over the Sea of Japan and East China Sea on Friday, causing Japan and South Korea to launch fighter aircraft in response. The joint bomber flight was the first time China deployed nuclear weapons capable bombers in the joint flight.

South Korea scrambled fighter jets on Friday after spotting Chinese and Russian military aircraft entering its air defence identification zone during a joint aerial patrol over the Sea of Japan. It was the ninth joint strategic aerial patrol between the two militaries since 2019,

Chinese and Russian militaries have organised and carried out the ninth joint strategic air patrol in "relevant airspace" over the Sea of Japan on Friday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said. The air patrol was part of an annual cooperation plan between the countries since 2019.