"China and Russia conducted their first-ever joint air patrol last week by sending bombers along the South Korean coast, intruding into its air defense identification zone as well as that of Japan, with Seoul charging that a Russian warplane had violated Korean airspace – the first such incursion since the Korean War. Japan, too, sent its jets aloft to intercept the Russian aircraft.
Russia’s defense ministry issued a statement denying any violation of airspace, saying the flights had taken place “over a pre-planned route.” China’s foreign ministry pointed out that the airspace in an air defense identification zone is “not territorial airspace and countries enjoy the freedom of overflight under international law.”
China’s defense ministry spokesman, Wu Qian, explained that the purpose of the joint patrol “is aimed at deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership of China and Russia, and boosting the strategy coordination and joint combat ability of the two nations.” He said it did not target “any third nation.”
Yet, the two countries chose to patrol the sensitive airspace along the Korean coast, above waters linking Korea and Japan. They must have known that there would be a reaction to such an exercise.
The Russian intrusion into airspace claimed by both South Korea and Japan triggered off several hundred rounds of warning shots fired by Korean jets toward the Russian A-50 airborne warning and control plane." Frank Ching in ejininsight.com
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This is a really bad thing and IMO it is altogether the result of the hyper-aggressiveness displayed by the US toward Russia since the fall of the USSR. We had the option then of offering a welcoming hand to Russia as it emerged from the nightmare of communist rule, but we did not extend such a hand. Instead, our civilian and military policy elites insisted that Russia was necessarily an enemy for the US and was still the communist USSR in disguise.
We (the US) drove the eastern boundary of NATO absurdly far into Russia's "comfort zone," and actively recruited the former member countries of the Warsaw Pact into NATO. We have also recruited many former Union Republics of the USSR into a specifically ant-Russian military alliance.
We are now surprised that a weakened Russia, spurned by us, makes common cause with China? What else were the Russians supposed to do? Fall on their knees before us and beg our pardon for existing?
Neocon folly and a lack of any sort of policy thoughtfulness have brought us to this.. pl
http://www.ejinsight.com/20190729-china-russia-air-patrol-shows-japan-and-south-korea-in-disarray/
Well said Colonel Lang,
From a Russian Perspective I would say that multiple 'Shocks' destroyed Relations from the Civil Perspective - Can Point to Kosovo, can Point to Georgia, can point to Ukraine, each took a massive toll on the 'Patient' Minded People of which I consider myself.
As I have pointed out Time and again - here and else - Putin DID extend the hand numerous Times over the 1999-2019 Period, among first was help with the logistics of Afghanistan in Central Asia.
Another was that of his Compromise to the inevitable withdrawl from the ABM Treaty - in which he suggested a joint Shield....
Ukraine - He offered 3 Party Talks on the Issue - EU-Ukraine-Russia to resolve it - the EU Refused.
We can go on - Ultimately - it is as you say - A Question of begging on ones Knees or accepting the reality and moving on.
Most of us are ready to move on - Disappointing as it may be.
The Chinese are their own Entity - I am unsure what this Future holds for us - but I think we can negotiate a good position being the reliable Fuel Source for their Engine.
I am among the 'Liberal Conservative Russians' which is to say - I fall between the Conservatives and Liberals in varied Degrees. I was a Member of the 'Young Diplomats Day' hosted by the US Consulate in Ekaterinburg, this was whilst grooming to be an eventual Reservist Officer in Russian Military.
I would say my patience is immense - but this has been utterly dragged out over the 2014-2019 Period
Irreparably
Posted by: Grazhdanochka | 31 July 2019 at 12:14 AM
If one looks at the bitter history of the relations between Russian & Iran, since Peter The Great ( www.iranicaonline.org/articles/russia-i-relations ) as well as with USSR ( www.iranicaonline.org/articles/russia-ii-iranian-soviet-relations-1917-1991 ) the current degree of cooperation & coordination would be astonishing.
A decade ago, collaboration, let alone forming a coalition, would have UNTHINKABLE for average Iranian.
Posted by: Amir | 31 July 2019 at 10:48 AM
Russia has had a free rein in Syria with very little interference from the west.Seems like the us stepped back and watched from the sidelines which in the long run has allowed the trump admin the chance to improve the economy and confront China from a position of strength and pressure Iran to change its policies
Posted by: Anon | 02 August 2019 at 06:45 AM
Anon
In spite of that, US assistance to the AQ connected jihadis continued.
Posted by: turcopolier | 02 August 2019 at 09:10 AM
Is this the target of China and Russia: The Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan?
Treaty: https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/n-america/us/q&a/ref/1.html
Agreement on bases and personnel: https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/area/usa/sfa/pdfs/fulltext.pdf
Posted by: crf | 04 August 2019 at 08:21 PM