Russia, China Stage Joint Bomber Patrol Near Japan

Japan says Russian and Chinese forces carried out a joint long-range air patrol near the Okinawa and Miyako islands on Tuesday, a move Tokyo described as an overt display of military power in the Pacific.

The Defence Ministry reported that two Russian TU-95 strategic bombers and two Chinese H-6 bombers flew together over the western Pacific as part of a coordinated operation between the two militaries.

Japan also detected separate Russian activity over the Sea of Japan, including an A-50 early-warning aircraft accompanied by two Su-30 fighter jets operating near its airspace.

Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the combined missions were“clearly intended as a show of force against our country,” warning that such actions pose serious risks to Japan's national security.

South Korea's military meanwhile said seven Russian aircraft and two Chinese planes briefly entered its air defence identification zone, prompting Seoul to scramble fighter jets in response.

Analysts say joint operations between Moscow and Beijing have become more frequent in recent years as both governments deepen military cooperation and push back against U.S. influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Tokyo, Seoul and Washington have repeatedly warned that continued incursions and large-scale patrols heighten the risk of miscalculation and could destabilize an already tense security environment in the region.

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