U.S. nuclear-capable bombers flew over the Sea of Japan with Japanese fighter jets on Wednesday, following Chinese and Russian military drills near Japan and South Korea. The joint exercise reaffirms both nations' resolve to prevent unilateral changes to the status quo by force. It underscores readiness amid rising regional tensions.
Japan's defense ministry announced on Thursday that two U.S. B-52 strategic bombers flew in formation with six Japanese fighter jets over the Sea of Japan on Wednesday. This joint flight serves as a show of force following military drills by China and Russia in the skies and seas around Japan and South Korea.
On Tuesday, Chinese and Russian strategic bombers conducted a joint flight in the East China Sea and western Pacific. Separate Chinese aircraft carrier exercises prompted Japan to scramble jets, which Tokyo said were targeted by radar beams. South Korea's military also scrambled fighters when the Chinese and Russian aircraft entered its air defense zone that day.
Japan and the U.S. "reaffirmed their strong resolve to prevent any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force and confirmed the readiness posture of both the Self Defense Forces (SDF) and U.S. forces," the ministry stated in a press release. The heightened tensions follow remarks last month by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on how Tokyo might respond to a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan, sparking a dispute with Beijing. China claims democratically governed Taiwan and has not ruled out using force, with the island located just over 100 km (62 miles) from Japanese territory and surrounded by vital sea lanes for Tokyo.
