China and Russia Conduct Joint Air Patrol in East China Sea and Western Pacific

BEIJING, Dec 9 (Reuters) - On Tuesday, China and Russia executed their 10th coordinated strategic air patrol over the East China Sea and the western Pacific, according to a statement from China's defense ministry. The ministry indicated that this operation was part of an annual collaboration agreement between the two nations' armed forces. This announcement followed South Korea's report of deploying fighter jets in response to the entry and exit of Chinese and Russian military aircraft in its air defense zone on the same day. (Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Andrew Heavens)