‘Highly provocative’: US sent destroyers after stunning Russia, China joint naval operation off coast of Alaska

China and Russia conducted a joint naval operation near the coast of Alaska earlier this week in a “highly provocative” move amid the war in Ukraine that triggered a robust US military response. The fleet of ships have since left, and were tailed by four US destroyers and P-8 Poseidon aircraft, officials confirmed to the newspaper. “Given the context of the war in Ukraine and tensions around Taiwan, this move is highly provocative.”China and Russia conducted a joint naval operation near the coast of Alaska earlier this week. Eleven Russian and Chinese ships neared the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska earlier this week, but never entered US waters. As it stands, Russia has greater assets than Alaska — something Sullivan says stands as a reminder that there’s still work to do for Alaska.