Chinese state media said the drills, named Northern/Interaction-2024, aim to deepen strategic cooperation between the two countries and strengthen their ability to respond to security threats.

A pair of Russian patrol aircraft circled Japan’s four main islands Thursday for the first time in five years, according to Japan’s military the same day.

Japan scrambled fighter jets after Russian aircraft flew around the archipelago for the first time in five years, Tokyo said Friday.

TOKYO – Japan scrambled fighter jets after Russian aircraft flew around the archipelago for the first time in five years, Tokyo said on Sept 13. From the morning of Sept 12 until afternoon, the Russian Tu-142 aircraft flew from the sea between Japan and South Korea towards the southern Okinawa region, a Defence Ministry statement said.