By Sarah Baafi
The United States and Japan conducted a joint show of military strength over the Sea of Japan on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 direct response to recent Chinese and Russian military exercises in the region, Japanese officials confirmed.
Two U.S. B-52 strategic bombers flew alongside three Japanese F-35 stealth fighters and three F-15 air-superiority jets, marking the first American airborne military display following China-Russia drills near Japan and South Korea last week.
Japan’s Defense Ministry emphasized that the operation reinforced the allied forces’ firm commitment to maintaining regional stability and deterring any attempts to alter the status quo by force. “This mission demonstrated the strong readiness of both the U.S. and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces,” the ministry said.
The show of force comes after China and Russia staged a joint bomber flight over the East China Sea and Western Pacific earlier this week.
The exercises also included maneuvers by a Chinese aircraft carrier, which prompted Japan to scramble fighter jets after reporting their radar systems were locked onto by Chinese planes, a claim Beijing denied, accusing Japan of risking safety during its operations.
Washington criticized the Chinese-Russian flights, saying such actions undermine peace in the region, and reiterated its unwavering commitment to the U.S.-Japan security alliance.
Japan hosts the largest American military presence abroad, including a U.S. Marine expeditionary force and an aircraft carrier strike group, making it a strategic hub for U.S. operations in the Indo-Pacific.
Japan’s Joint Staff Chief, General Hiroaki Uchikura, described the China-Russia bomber flights as a deliberate show of force targeting Japanese security interests. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi also expressed these concerns in a call with NATO’s Secretary-General.
In Beijing, Chinese officials defended the drills as routine military cooperation meant to uphold regional peace, urging Japan to avoid exaggerating the situation.
Meanwhile, South Korea also responded by scrambling jets when the joint Chinese-Russian aircraft entered its air defense identification zone, an area used to monitor and preempt threats beyond formal airspace.
Tensions in the Taiwan Strait have similarly escalated, with China increasing military patrols near Taiwan, including flights by nuclear-capable bombers.
Taiwan’s defense ministry reported a surge in Chinese aircraft and warships conducting joint combat readiness exercises near the island, which Beijing claims as its territory.
The mounting military activities highlight growing unease in East Asia following recent Japanese political statements suggesting a more proactive response to a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan, raising concerns over the fragile security landscape of the region.
Source:Reuters
