Russian and Chinese bombers have carried out the countries’ first joint long-range air patrol in Asia, spooking regional rivals and drawing warning shots from South Korean fighter jets.

Fighters scrambled by Seoul on Tuesday fired about 360 warning shots at a Russian surveillance aircraft accompanying the bombers after what South Korean officials described as an “unprecedented” violation of the country’s airspace above the Sea of Japan. 

The joint exercise, which Moscow said was the first time it had partnered with Beijing to conduct a long-range patrol in the region, marks a significant step in the burgeoning military relationship between Russia and China, which has intensified in recent years as Moscow’s relationship with the west has soured, and saw Chinese troops take part in huge joint war games in Russia last year.