The United States on Wednesday deployed two nuclear-capable B-52 strategic bombers to fly in formation with Japanese F-35 and F-15 fighter jets over the Sea of Japan, Tokyo said, in a coordinated show of force following recent Chinese and Russian military drills in the region.
Japan’s Defence Ministry described the joint sortie as a clear message of allied resolve to deter any attempt to unilaterally change the regional status quo through force. The mission, involving U.S. bombers and six Japanese fighters, marked the strongest assertion of American military presence in the region since China initiated its large-scale exercises last week.
The flight came shortly after Chinese and Russian strategic bombers conducted joint operations over the East China Sea and western Pacific, prompting Japan and South Korea to scramble their own jets in response. Tokyo also raised concerns about an incident in which Chinese aircraft allegedly locked radar on Japanese fighters — a move condemned by Japan as destabilizing.
While Washington reaffirmed its “unwavering” alliance with Tokyo, Beijing dismissed some Japanese claims and insisted its drills were routine exercises. Both Japan and South Korea host significant U.S. military assets, underscoring the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific amid rising geopolitical tensions involving China, Russia and U.S. allies.
