US flies bombers near Japan after China-Russia drills

US bombers with Japanese fighter jets

Tensions are rising between China and Japan over the Taiwan issue. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has spoken of the possibility of using military force to confront China. Since then, the two Asian powers have been at loggerheads.

This time, a show of military power has also begun. Recently, Chinese fighter jets joined military exercises near Japanese airspace with Russia. In response, the US has flown a nuclear-capable bomber alongside Japanese fighter jets. In a statement on Thursday (December 11), the Japanese Defense Ministry said that Japan and the US have reaffirmed their strong commitment to deterring attempts to disrupt regional peace through force.

Two US B-52 strategic bombers, three Japanese F-35 stealth fighters and three F-15 air-superiority jets flew together on the day. This is the first such display of US military presence since China began military exercises last week.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chinese and Russian strategic bombers conducted joint patrols in the East China Sea and western Pacific Ocean. In addition, Japanese fighter jets scrambled due to separate exercises by Chinese aircraft carriers. Tokyo claims that the radars of those Chinese planes tried to lock on to its fighter jets.

Beijing denied Japan's accusations, saying that Japanese fighter jets in the area were endangering the operations of Chinese carrier aircraft.

South Korea's military said that they also sent fighter jets when Chinese and Russian aircraft came under their air defenses on Tuesday (December 9).

Reuters reports.