US, Canada fighter jets intercept Russian and Chinese bombers near Alaska

Canadian and American fighter jets intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers over international airspace near Alaska on Wednesday.

NORAD says the bombers were not seen as a threat and China and Russia have confirmed that they conducted a joint air patrol over the Bearing Sea which divides Alaska and Russia.

“This was not a surprise to us, we closely monitored the aircraft, tracked the aircraft and intercepted the aircraft which demonstrates that our forces are at the ready,” said U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin on Thursday.

“As to whether our adversaries are testing us at this time — they’re always testing us,” Austin said.

#GlobalNews

[CannonFodder]

Maverick: Talk to me, Canada Goose.🤣

[eddieszeto]

Freedom of navigation, the United States often says and does.

[marcusaetius]

These interceptions in international airspace happen all the time, the Russians and the Chinese intercept NATO aircraft frequently also. Why is this considered news?

[Progressive_Canadian]

Russia being in that area is business as usual but what the hell is China doing there?

[shawkunxiong]

The United States regularly sends warships and aircraft to sail off China's coast. The explanation given by the United States is that as long as 12 nautical miles outside the coast is free navigation. So China and Russia are learning from the US and sailing freely.

[alainmcin]

They didn't intercept anything, they were in international

[lc]

Why can’t China or Russia fly by Alaska when USA and Canada fly by China border? At least the Chinese did not bring a journalist on the plane.

[lawlaw]

That is because if you receive something from someone, you should return the same type of thing to him, otherwise you are not polite.

[Badthedude]

How many USA Airbases are near Russia you forgot to show

[Joe-mzdc]

They were flying in international airspace and this kind of thing happens all the time. Fear-mongering.

[tylerk]

Flying NEAR Alaska. He said the planes came as close as 200 miles from Alaska, the closest point from Alaska from Russia is 53 miles, so they were 147 miles within Russian territory. Bunch of war mongers these guys are.

[nannie]

Distance between Russia and Alaska is about 55 miles at it's narrowest. However there are islands in the Bering Strait, one belonging to the US and one belonging to Russia that are only 2 1/2 miles apart.

[tonymanuge]

I suggest that if you are going to use stock photos, you should find ones that match them.

[carmenmccauley]

What does "intercept" mean? What occurred?

[kwd]

I for one appreciate Canada standing with us. Thank you northern friends.

[PabloGonzalez-hvtd]

Hardly an intercept. More of an observation.

[timberwolfdtproductions]

As Canadians we need to start taking our national security far more seriously, and start giving our military the funding it needs to do it’s job effectively! The health care, education, and social services that we all value so highly will all disappear if we can’t secure our borders.

[JackYong-vkfu]

How does it feel being the opposite end of the senario? Didn't US Canada been doing that for years in South China Sea?

[pauljones]

It is not an unnecessary war. It is a necessary war, because NATO lied repeatedly about advancing their forces towards Russia. The U$A condoned it and wa$ hoping it would lead to war, which it did. The military/indu$trial complex is ec$tatic.

[jimdean]

THis should not be NEWS as it happens quite frequently over the decades