US and Japanese defense chiefs held a phone call on Friday to address a recent confrontation between Chinese and Japanese fighter jets amid China-Russia military drills, reaffirming alliance coordination to maintain regional stability without escalation.
Building on last week's China-Russia joint drills—where Japanese jets were scrambled and targeted by radar beams—and a subsequent US B-52 bomber flight with Japanese fighters over the Sea of Japan, US and Japanese defense chiefs spoke by phone on Friday.
The call focused on the radar confrontation between Chinese and Japanese jets over the weekend, highlighting persistent East Asia tensions. Japan's defense ministry stated the discussion aligned positions to avoid further escalation, with Tokyo emphasizing it does not seek to heighten conflicts with China. The US reaffirmed support for Japan and commitment to regional stability.
Such incidents underscore frequent aerial encounters drawing global attention, often involving radar locks or technical standoffs with limited public details. The exchange reinforces deepening US-Japan defense ties in response to Chinese military assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific.
