Chinese and Russian bombers flew together over US air defense zones in Alaska on July 24, prompting US and Canadian forces to intercept and escort them. The clash does not pose a threat of serious escalation, but is a reminder of China's expanding air power, writes the British newspaper The Telegraph, and highlights the high stakes of the developing situation, as quoted by Focus.
"When two Chinese Xi'an H-6 bombers and two Russian Tu-95s flew into Alaska's Air Defense Zone on July 24, US and Canadian Air Force fighter jets took to the air to intercept them welcomed“, the publication emphasizes.
The publication notes that interceptions of Russian planes are a daily occurrence, but Chinese ones are a rarer phenomenon, and for a very simple reason. When it comes to long-range aviation, the Chinese Air Force is decades behind the Russian or American Air Force.
As China's bombers improve, they move further inland and more often into the Pacific Ocean. It is no secret that these long-distance flights are training before a possible war, the editors are confident. "If China ever lives up to its decades of threats and invades Taiwan and the US comes to its rescue, expect Chinese bombers to attack US Navy aircraft carrier groups at sea and potentially US Air Force bases in the Pacific,”, the publication warned.
"Stopping these bombers will be a top priority for American fighter pilots who protect the US fleet and bases,” the newspaper concluded.