In 2024, China's People's Liberation Army Air Force's H-6K and H-6N strategic bombers made their first joint patrol operation with Russia's Tu-95MS bomber near Alaska and in the deep Pacific. This event has attracted widespread attention from Western observers. Everyone believes that these actions sent out a very strong political signal, especially when nuclear weapons or platforms capable of launching nuclear weapons approach potential adversaries.

Since the Cold War, Russia has often conducted such provocative flight activities. However, for China, this operation with Russia marks a significant improvement in its ability to project national power abroad. Recently, the United States released a report offering a new interpretation of the true purpose of these Chinese flight activities, explicitly stating that during the flight on November 30, 2024, the Chinese H-6N bomber conducted a simulated nuclear strike training mission targeting Guam.

Derek Sorensen, a researcher at the U.S. Air Force's China Aerospace Studies Institute, mentioned in a presentation at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Aerospace Research Institute that the real intention behind the Chinese bomber flights might be to demonstrate the completeness and practical application capability of China's nuclear triad system. He said, "It is obvious that China has been working hard to build a nuclear triad system for many years, and these bomber flights are showcasing the achievements in this regard." The H-6N bomber, which is China's first nuclear bomber with aerial refueling capability, has a flight range of 6,000 kilometers and can carry the KD-21 air-launched cruise missile with a range of about 2,000 kilometers, giving it the ability to conduct nuclear strikes on distant targets.

On July 24, 2024, two H-6K and two Tu-95MS bombers flew within the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, triggering interception actions by U.S. and Canadian fighter jets (including F-16, F-35, and CF-18). Although these planes did not enter U.S. or Canadian airspace, this was the first time the Chinese Air Force took off from a foreign base (possibly Russia) and approached American territory, clearly indicating a significant enhancement in the Chinese Air Force's ability to project power abroad. A few days later, China and Russia carried out more joint flights in the Sea of Japan, East China Sea, and the western Pacific. Among them was the H-6N bomber from the 106th Brigade of Henan Province, a unit mainly responsible for executing nuclear strike missions.

Sorensen believes that the flight on November 30, 2024, was particularly worth noting, as the H-6N entered the range of cruise missiles capable of reaching Guam. This may be "the first serious nuclear strike training from the air against Guam by China," indicating that China not only technically perfected its nuclear triad but also verified its strategic deterrence capabilities in practice. Guam, as an important military base for the United States in the Western Pacific, is a key target for China's long-range strike capabilities.

Sorensen initially thought that these Chinese bomber flight activities were sending political signals. The purpose was to show the close military cooperation between China and Russia, and by deploying the H-6, it was also conveying a message to the United States that China opposes the "nuclear sharing" approach. He also pointed out that he found some inconsistencies. For example, during the NATO summit in July 2024, NATO criticized China for supporting Russia's "attack" on Ukraine, but the Chinese bomber flying near Guam happened four months later. The long interval made the claim that "China supports Russia" seem less convincing.

The report also mentions that China officially began using the H-6N in 2019, completed the renovation of related bases, and the same year saw the start of joint patrols between China and Russia. This shows that there is a connection between military training and political intentions. Sorensen believes that if it were just for military training, the flights would have been limited to the East China Sea or the Sea of Japan, but flying to Alaska and Guam indicates broader strategic goals.

Currently, China and Russia have not resumed joint flights in 2025. Sorensen said, "The decision by China and Russia not to conduct joint flights this year may be political. He warned that once negotiations end or fail, joint patrols between China and Russia may resume, and even China may conduct regular long-range flights alone to demonstrate its non-nuclear and nuclear strike capabilities against the U.S. mainland and targets in the Western Pacific."

This report reveals the multiple motivations behind China's bomber operations: it is both a technical verification of the nuclear triad capability and a strategic warning to the United States and its allies. So, are the Americans right? Some say they are all nonsense because so far, China has never confirmed that the H-6N needs to perform nuclear attack missions. The reason is simple; we have better nuclear deterrent platforms. Before possessing stealth strategic bombers, there was no need to do this at all.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7544391677675373082/

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