Amid a rapidly intensifying security environment in East Asia, the United States and Japan have conducted a high-profile joint air exercise, signaling their resolve to counter growing military pressures from China and Russia. The drills, held on December 10, 2025, over the Sea of Japan, come at a moment of heightened diplomatic and military tensions, with both Tokyo and Washington emphasizing their commitment to regional stability and deterrence.
The exercise featured two U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers—aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons—flying in formation with three Japanese F-35A stealth fighters and three F-15J jets. According to Japan’s Joint Staff Office, the tactical drills "strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance," a message underscored by the presence of such formidable military hardware. As reported by USNI News, the B-52s, equipped with New START-compliant tail fins, highlighted the United States’ extended deterrence commitment to its ally.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held telephone talks the following day, discussing what Koizumi described as an "increasingly severe security situation in the Indo-Pacific region, including the radar incident" involving Chinese military aircraft. The Japanese Ministry of Defense made it clear: "China’s actions are not conducive to regional peace and stability." Koizumi reiterated Japan’s resolve to "firmly and steadily continue surveillance and monitoring activities in the airspace and waters surrounding the country."
This show of allied force came just after Chinese and Russian bombers conducted coordinated patrols encircling Japan and South Korea. On December 9 and 10, two Russian Tu-95 nuclear-capable bombers joined two Chinese H-6 bombers for a joint flight from the Sea of Japan, across the East China Sea, and into the Pacific, with four Chinese J-16 fighters joining as the formation passed between Okinawa and Miyako—areas where China has been expanding its military presence. According to France 24, Japan scrambled jets to monitor the patrols but reported no airspace violations.
Japan’s Chief of Staff, Joint Staff General Hiroaki Uchikura, did not mince words, telling Deutsche Welle, "We consider it a grave concern from the standpoint of Japan's security." The joint patrols, described as routine by both Beijing and Moscow, were nonetheless viewed by Tokyo as a significant escalation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun dismissed Japanese concerns, stating, "The Japanese side has no need to make a fuss about nothing or to take this personally."
Underlying the military maneuvers is a deepening diplomatic rift. Tensions between Japan and China have spiked since early November, after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that Japan might intervene militarily if China took action against Taiwan—a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own. This statement drew sharp rebuke from Beijing, which has since ramped up military activity around Japan, including the deployment of the Liaoning carrier strike group and increased bomber patrols with Russia.
The situation escalated further over the weekend prior to the joint drills, when Chinese J-15 fighter jets from the Liaoning aircraft carrier twice locked radar on Japanese F-15s in international waters near Okinawa. Radar-locking is widely viewed as a potential prelude to an attack, forcing targeted aircraft to take evasive action. Tokyo responded by scrambling jets and lodging a formal protest with Beijing, demanding an explanation and preventive measures. China denied any wrongdoing, accusing Japanese jets of interfering with its training exercises.
Washington, for its part, expressed unequivocal support for Japan. A U.S. State Department spokesperson told AFP, "China's actions are not conducive to regional peace and stability. The U.S.-Japan Alliance is stronger and more united than ever. Our commitment to our ally Japan is unwavering, and we are in close contact on this and other issues."
Beyond the headline-grabbing bomber drills, Japan has been quietly but steadily reinforcing its southwestern defenses. Over the last decade, the Japan Self-Defense Forces have bolstered garrisons on islands between Taiwan and Kyushu with new Marine units, missile batteries, and electronic warfare jammers. This week, Japanese aviation enthusiasts photographed as many as 16 F-2 fighters—aircraft based on the F-16 and dedicated to ground attack and anti-shipping missions—taking off from Tsuiki Air Base, fully loaded with domestically made ASM-2 anti-ship missiles. According to military analyst Yoshihiro Inaba, as reported by USNI News, "It is highly unusual to see this many F-2s appear with a full loadout of ASM-2s, making the situation extremely distinctive. It is likely intended as a deterrent response to the Chinese Navy’s aircraft carrier Liaoning, which has advanced into the waters south of Kyushu."
The regional reverberations of these maneuvers have not gone unnoticed. South Korea scrambled its own fighter jets after Chinese and Russian aircraft entered its air defense identification zone on December 9. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported a surge in Chinese military activity, with 27 aircraft—including nuclear-capable H-6K bombers—carrying out joint patrols with warships around the island.
Diplomatic exchanges have been as heated as the military ones. Japan summoned China’s ambassador following the radar-locking incident, while Beijing accused Tokyo of hyping the situation and conducting unauthorized reconnaissance. The Financial Times noted Tokyo’s frustration at what it perceives as a lack of public support from Washington’s top officials, despite the strong statements from the State Department.
The international community has also weighed in. NATO chief Mark Rutte called the radar incident and the joint Chinese-Russian patrols "regrettable," affirming that "security in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions is completely inseparable." This sentiment was echoed during a video conference with Japan’s Defense Minister Koizumi, reinforcing the sense that global alliances are watching the situation closely.
Despite the flurry of military activity and diplomatic protests, both sides have maintained that their actions are defensive in nature. Beijing and Moscow insist their patrols are routine, while Tokyo and Washington frame their exercises as necessary deterrence against unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force. As the region watches anxiously, the message from Tokyo and Washington is clear: the alliance stands firm, ready to respond to any escalation.
For now, the skies above the Sea of Japan remain crowded, each maneuver carrying the weight of history and the uncertainty of what comes next.
