Japan deployed fighter jets to monitor Russian and Chinese military aircraft conducting joint patrols near its airspace, the country’s defence ministry said late Tuesday, as tensions between Tokyo and Beijing continue to rise.
According to the ministry, two Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, flew from the Sea of Japan toward the East China Sea, where they linked up with two Chinese H-6 bombers. The aircraft then carried out what officials described as a “long-distance joint flight” across the Pacific region.
Joint Bomber Flight Near Okinawa
The ministry said the bombers were accompanied by four Chinese J-16 fighter jets as they flew a round-trip route between Japan’s Okinawa and Miyako islands. The Miyako Strait, located between the two islands, is considered international waters but is strategically sensitive due to its proximity to Japanese territory.
Japan also detected additional Russian military activity in the Sea of Japan at the same time. This included one A-50 airborne early-warning aircraft and two Su-30 fighter jets, indicating a broader air operation beyond the joint bomber patrol.
Japan Calls Maneuvers a Security Concern
Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on Wednesday that the coordinated Russian-Chinese operation appeared to be a deliberate show of force.
“These joint activities are clearly intended to demonstrate military pressure against our country, which raises serious concerns for Japan’s national security,” Koizumi said in a post on X.
He added that Japan’s fighter jets carried out air defense identification procedures strictly and professionally to ensure national airspace was protected.
Regional Reactions and Wider Impact
Russian media reported that the joint patrol lasted approximately eight hours, citing Russia’s defence ministry. Meanwhile, South Korea’s military said seven Russian aircraft and two Chinese aircraft also entered its air defense identification zone on Tuesday, highlighting the broader regional scope of the operation.
The incident follows a separate confrontation earlier this week, when Japan said Chinese carrier-based fighter jets aimed radar at Japanese military aircraft. China rejected that claim.
Military activity by China near Japan has increased in recent months, particularly after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated last month that Tokyo could respond if Chinese military action against Taiwan threatened Japan’s security.
Growing Military Cooperation Between China and Russia
China and Russia have steadily expanded their military cooperation in recent years. Joint activities have included anti-missile drills on Russian territory, live-fire naval exercises in the South China Sea, and increasingly frequent air and naval patrols near U.S. allies in the region.
Analysts say such operations are intended to test regional response capabilities while signaling closer strategic alignment between Beijing and Moscow amid strained relations with Western nations and their allies in Asia.