Juneau: Two Chinese and two Russian military aircraft were tracked flying over international waters near Alaska, prompting the dispatch of U.S. and Canadian fighter jets, according to the joint aerospace command.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) did not perceive the Chinese and Russian military activities on Wednesday as a threat. NORAD stated it will continue to monitor competitor activities near North America and respond accordingly.
Russia’s military presence in the North Pacific is longstanding, but China has recently become more active as its naval and air forces extend their reach. In mid-July, the U.S. Coast Guard observed four Chinese naval ships in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, which spans 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) from the coastline.
The recent incident involved Chinese and Russian planes within the North American U.S. Air Defense Identification Zone, where identification of aircraft is required for national security.
Moscow has claimed that all flights of the Russian Aerospace Forces comply with international airspace regulations. The Tu-95 fleet, integral to Russia’s nuclear capabilities, has been utilized for significant conventional missile strikes in Ukraine, causing extensive damage.
The Tu-95s, part of Russia’s nuclear forces and operational for approximately 70 years, are unique as the only strategic bombers using propellers. These incidents occur as Moscow expresses increasing discontent with the U.S. resuming substantial arms supplies to Ukraine, part of a $61 billion aid package for the conflict.