US bombers in show of force with Japanese jets after China-Russia drills

US nuclear-capable bombers flew over the Sea of Japan with Japanese fighter jets, Tokyo said on Dec 11, in a show of force after Chinese and Russian military drills in the skies and seas around Japan and South Korea.

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Japan and the US “reaffirmed their strong resolve to prevent any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force and confirmed the readiness posture of both the Self Defense Forces and US forces”, Japan’s Defence Ministry said.

The flight of two US B-52 strategic bombers with three Japanese F-35 stealth fighters and three F-15 air-superiority jets was the first time the US had asserted its military presence since China began military exercises in the region last week.

The display follows a joint flight of Chinese and Russian strategic bombers over the East China Sea and western Pacific on Dec 9 and separate Chinese aircraft carrier drills that prompted Japan to scramble jets that Tokyo said were targeted by radar beams.

China denied Tokyo’s accusation about the carrier-aircraft encounter, saying Japanese jets had endangered its air operations south of Japan.