Japan is on high alert again — and this time, it’s because Russian and Chinese warplanes decided to take a long flight around its backyard.
So what exactly happened up there?
According to Japan’s defence ministry, two Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers flew down from the Sea of Japan.
They met two Chinese H-6 bombers over the East China Sea.
Together, they carried out what officials described as a “long-distance joint flight” across the Pacific.
And they didn’t travel alone. Four Chinese J-16 fighter jets swooped in to join the mission.
They looped between Okinawa and Miyako — a busy air corridor that, while international, sits uncomfortably close to Japan.
At the same time, Japan spotted more Russian activity: an A-50 early-warning aircraft and two Su-30 fighters moving through the Sea of Japan.
In other words, skies were crowded. Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi didn’t mince words.
Joint Air Patrol Tensions
These joint ops were “clearly intended as a show of force… a serious concern for our national security,” he said.
He added that Japan’s jets responded by “strictly implementing” air-defence procedures.
South Korea also reported nine Russian and Chinese aircraft briefly entering its air defence zone.
Why the sudden surge in muscle-flexing? Analysts point to deepening China-Russia military cooperation — and rising friction between Tokyo and Beijing.
This comes especially after Japan hinted it could respond to any Chinese move on Taiwan.
If the skies are this tense, one has to wonder: what happens when diplomacy hits turbulence?
