As the leaders of the Quad met in person in Tokyo on Tuesday, Chinese and Russian aeroplanes conducted coordinated air patrols over the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and the West Pacific Ocean, in an apparent attempt to send a message of unity between Beijing and Moscow.

The Chinese and Russian air forces conducted customary cooperative strategic air patrols over the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and the West Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, according to a brief notice from the Chinese Ministry of Defense.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese all attended the second in-person Quad conference.

When the leaders of the Quad alliance, which includes the US, India, Japan, and Australia, met in person for the second time on Tuesday, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi told the media that Japan had raised grave worries over joint operations by Russian and Chinese military planes. Two Chinese bombers joined two Russian bombers in the Sea of Japan and flew to the East China Sea together, according to Kishi, who added that Japan has raised the issue with both countries through diplomatic channels.

In the past, China and Russia held annual military training in the Pacific. However, holding the practise on the day of the Quad meeting was seen as an attempt by Beijing and Moscow to send a message of unity and closeness amid mounting world criticism of Russia’s offensive against Ukraine and China’s unwavering support for it.

Separately, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated in Beijing that China-Russia relations had passed a new test posed by the changing world scene and were progressing in the right path. When asked to comment on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks that Russia will continue to develop friendly relations with China and that ties will grow faster, especially when the West assumes a dictatorial role, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing here that cooperation is driven by strong internal dynamics.

According to Wang, China and Russia are each other’s greatest neighbours, most important close neighbours, and comprehensive strategic coordination partners. The new test of the shifting international scene has passed, and China-Russia ties are progressing in the right direction. Internal dynamics drive China-Russia collaboration, which is respected for its independence.

He emphasised that it is not directed at anyone else and would not be affected by others. The new test of the shifting international scene has passed, and China-Russia ties are progressing in the right direction. He emphasised that it is not directed at anyone else and would not be affected by others.