Japan Scrambles Fighter Jets as Russian and Chinese Forces Conduct Joint Aerial Patrols Near Territory

A Russian TU-95 bomber (File)

Japan mobilized fighter jets to monitor joint patrol operations conducted by Russian and Chinese air forces in proximity to Japanese territory, according to a statement released by the Japanese defense ministry on Tuesday evening, amid escalating tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.

The ministry reported that two Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers with nuclear capability flew from the Sea of Japan toward the East China Sea to meet with two Chinese H-6 bombers, subsequently executing a "long-distance joint flight" over Pacific waters.

Additionally, four Chinese J-16 fighter jets accompanied the bombers during their round-trip flight path between Japan's Okinawa and Miyako islands. The Miyako Strait separating these islands is recognized as international waters.

Japanese authorities also detected concurrent Russian air activity in the Sea of Japan, comprising one A-50 early-warning aircraft and two Su-30 fighter jets, the ministry stated.

On Wednesday, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi expressed concern via social media platform X, stating that these Russian and Chinese joint operations were "clearly intended as a show of force against our nation, which is a serious concern for our national security."

Koizumi further noted that Japanese fighter jets had "strictly implemented air defense identification measures" in response.

According to Russian news agencies citing Moscow's defense ministry, the Russian-Chinese joint aerial operation near Japan continued for eight hours.

South Korea's military likewise reported on Tuesday that seven Russian aircraft and two Chinese planes had entered its air defense identification zone.

This incident follows Japan's Sunday statement that Chinese carrier-launched fighter jets had targeted Japanese military aircraft with radar the previous day—an account that Beijing has contested.

China's increasing military activities near Japan come after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's statement last month indicating that Tokyo might respond to any Chinese military action against Taiwan that also threatened Japan's security.

In recent years, China and Russia have intensified their military cooperation elsewhere, conducting joint operations including anti-missile training exercises on Russian territory and live-fire naval drills in the South China Sea.