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Japan has activated fighter jets to observe Russian and Chinese aircraft conducting joint patrols around its territory, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry reported late Tuesday amid escalating tensions with Beijing. Two Russian Tu-95 bombers, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, flew from the Sea of Japan toward the East China Sea to meet up with two Chinese H-6 bombers. They carried out a “long-distance joint flight” over the Pacific Ocean.
Additionally, four Chinese J-16 fighters accompanied the bombers during their round-trip mission between Okinawa and Miyako Islands. The Miyako Strait separating the two islands is considered international waters. Japan also detected Russian military activity in the Sea of Japan, including an A-50 early warning aircraft and two Su-30 fighters.
Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi commented on X (formerly Twitter) Wednesday that the Russian-Chinese operations were “clearly intended as a display of force against our nation,” emphasizing concerns over national security. He assured that Japanese fighter jets responded with strict air defense identification measures.
Moscow’s defense ministry stated that the Russian-Chinese joint operation near Japan lasted approximately eight hours. South Korea reported that seven Russian and two Chinese aircraft entered its air defense zone on the same day.
Last Sunday, Japan claimed that Chinese carrier-based fighters targeted Japanese military aircraft with radar, an account that Beijing disputes. Growing Chinese military actions near Japan follow Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent warning that Japan might respond if China takes military action against Taiwan that threatens Japanese security.
Across the region, China and Russia have intensified military cooperation, executing joint exercises including missile defense drills on Russian territory and live-fire naval exercises in the South China Sea.
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