US expresses concern: Russia and China find new way to cooperate
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (photo: Getty Images)
Russian and Chinese bombers came within 200 miles of the Alaskan coastline this week. This is the first time that military aircraft from Russia and China have flown so close to US territory, according to a statement from US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
The flight raised concerns in Washington and Ottawa about Beijing and Moscow finding a new way to collaborate so close to North America.
Austin stated that the bombers were tracked for most of their flight and that it was not a surprise.
While it is not unusual for Russian aircraft to approach US airspace around Alaska, the joint flight signals China's increasingly assertive stance and the expansion of its military ties with Russia, Politico notes.
The flight occurred just hours before US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race.
"This is a relationship that we have been concerned about mostly because we’re concerned about China providing support to Russia’s illegal and unnecessary war in Ukraine. We’ve seen evidence of that, and we would hope that that would cease going forward, but we’ll see what happens and how this relationship continues to develop," Austin said.
He made the comments a day before starting his 11th trip to the Indo-Pacific region with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The first destination is Japan.
In Tokyo, Austin will also participate in the inaugural trilateral meeting of defense leaders from the US, Japan, and South Korea.
Following this, Blinken and Austin will travel to the Philippines.
On July 24, American and Canadian fighter jets intercepted several Russian and Chinese bombers near the Alaskan coastline.
Russia-China cooperation
A few days ago, the Japanese agency Nikkei reported that Chinese companies are exporting high-precision components used in Russian weaponry to a Belarusian defense contractor, even after it was sanctioned due to the war against Ukraine.
The US Department of Defense has unveiled a new Arctic Strategy for 2024. The Pentagon expressed concern over the growing rapprochement between China and Russia - two major competitors of Washington in the national security arena.
China and the Philippines
Recently, China and the Philippines reached an agreement that they hope will resolve the confrontation over the most disputed area in the South China Sea - the Second Thomas Shoal.
