WW4 File: Russian Air Force, People’s Liberation Army Air Force hold first-ever joint patrol, fly over Sea of Japan on July 24, including allegedly Dokdo/Takeshima Islands, disputed archipelago occupied by South Korea but also claimed by Japan; invading air armada consists of two Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers and one Beriev A-50 AEW&C aircraft, plus two PLAAF H-6 strategic bombers and one KJ-2000 AEW&C aircraft; SK, Japan scramble fighter jets to repel intruders, ROK Air Force F-16s fire 360 warning shots from machine guns, 20 flares; ROK Defense Ministry summons officials from Russian, Chinese embassies to lodge protests, while Kremlin releases bland statement: “The joint patrol was carried out with the aim of deepening Russian-Chinese relations within our all-encompassing partnership . . .”; Pentagon rebukes Moscow-Beijing Axis’ provocation: “The United States strongly supports our ROK and Japanese allies and their responses to air space incursions by Chinese and Russian aircraft”; also accuses communist regime in Caracas of “aggressive intentions” after Venezuelan fighter jet shadows US spy plane over Caribbean Sea on July 21

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Before long, the communist strategists might be persuaded that the balance had swung irreversibly in their favor. In that event they might well decide on a Sino-Soviet “reconciliation.” The scissors strategy would give way to the strategy of “one clenched fist.” At that point the shift in the political and military balance would be plain for all to see.
— Anatoliy Golitsyn. New Lies for Old: The Communist Strategy of Deception and Disinformation. New York: Dodd, Mead and Co., 1984.

Back from month-long vacation.