The Chinese and Russian air forces completed the second phase of the ninth joint strategic aerial patrol in the western Pacific airspace, the Ministry of National Defense said on Saturday.

As part of the annual cooperation between the two militaries, the joint aerial patrol was carried out on Friday in the relevant airspace of the Sea of Japan, according to the ministry.

It is the ninth joint aerial patrol organized by the two militaries since 2019, and the second this year.

Li Shangyi contributed to this story.