In an article published by the Global Times on December 23, Hu Xijin, Editor-in-Chief of the Global Times, commented on the second joint aerial strategic patrol in the Asia-Pacific region by the air forces of China and Russia on December 22 over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. Stating that "as long as China and Russia strategically support each other and work together to meet challenges, the alliance game played by the US will be like petty tricks. The desire of the US to crush China and Russia is pure wishful thinking", he said "rather than forming an alliance, China and Russia pursue a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination". Hu Xijin urged Japan "to move away from its geographical position adjacent to China and Russia. It should be friendly to China and Russia, instead of misjudging the overall strategic situation and stubbornly following the US." Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation expert,  was quoted by Global Times (December 23) in a separate article as saying as more joint patrols are set in the future, the scale of these patrols could increase, and more types of aircraft, including aerial tankers that could extend the range of other participating aircraft. He noted that the PLA has conducted strategic patrols on its own, and conducting joint patrols with Russia will further improve its capability in high seas, honing the ability to safeguard maritime interests and national and regional security. South Korea's Yonhap News agency reported that the Russian and Chinese planes also flew over the Tsushima Strait separating Japan and the southernmost point of the Korean peninsula, as well as an area near the southern island of Okinawa. The Chinese-language version of Global Times (December 24) also published a similar article but additionally quoted Professor Li Haidong from the Institute of International Relations of the China Foreign Affairs University. Prof. Li Haidong told Global Times (December 23) 'that some analysts worry about the possibility of realignment of the world structure, but this mainly depends on the US. Some people in the United States want a new Cold War, and they also look forward to forming an alliance to contain China and Russia after Biden takes power. It also quoted an anonymous military expert as saying 'that since the United States is now giving China and Russia such a huge threat, and China and Russia must respond. He added "The United States and the West should also think about it. Is the Cold War really in the interests of the United States and the West? If China and Russia really form an alliance, it will also be forced by the United States and the West."

(Comment: Four H-6K bombers of the PLAAF and two Tu-95 bombers of Russia jointly carried out the aerial patrols. The first such joint aerial strategic patrol took place on July 23, 2019, in which China sent two H-6Ks and Russia sent two Tu-95s, which jointly patrolled the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.)