US nuclear capable B52 bombers have flown over the Sea of Japan alongside Japanese fighter jets, Tokyo said on Thursday, in a coordinated show of force following recent Chinese and Russian military drills around Japan and South Korea.
Japan’s defence ministry said both countries “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 US forces.”
The flight involved two US B52 strategic bombers operating with three Japanese F35 stealth fighters and three F15 air superiority jets. It marked the first demonstration of US military presence since China launched drills in the region last week.
The operation came after a joint flight of Chinese and Russian strategic bombers over the East China Sea and western Pacific on Tuesday, as well as separate Chinese aircraft carrier exercises that triggered a scramble of Japanese jets. Tokyo said its aircraft were targeted by radar beams during the encounter.
China rejected the accusation, insisting Japanese jets endangered its air operations south of Japan. Beijing said Washington’s criticism was unwarranted after the US accused China of behaviour “not conducive to regional peace and stability” and reiterated its alliance with Japan was “unwavering.”
Japan and South Korea both host significant US military deployments, with Japan home to the largest concentration of American forces overseas, including a carrier strike group and a Marine expeditionary force.
Japan’s Chief of Staff, Joint Staff General Hiroaki Uchikura, said the Chinese Russian bomber flight was a deliberate message aimed at Japan.
“We consider it a grave concern from the standpoint of Japan’s security,” he said during a regular briefing.
Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi also raised the issue with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in a phone call on Wednesday.
Beijing continued to defend its joint drills, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun saying they were part of routine cooperation with Moscow, reflecting joint commitment to “safeguard regional peace and stability”. He added, “The Japanese side has no need to make a fuss about nothing or to take this personally.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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