China and Russia conducted joint strategic air patrols on Tuesday over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, according to the Chinese Defense Ministry.

The operation, the sixth of its kind since 2019, was part of the annual cooperation plan between the two militaries, the ministry said in a very short news release, without giving details of what types of aircraft and how many planes were involved.

During the fifth joint patrol in November last year, the Chinese air force deployed H-6K bombers while the Russian military deployed Tu-95 bombers and Su-35 fighter jets.