TOKYO, JAPAN – U.S. strategic bombers participated in joint flight drills with Japanese fighter jets on Wednesday, demonstrating close military cooperation as tensions with China continue to rise, Japanese defense officials said. The exercise involved two U.S. B-52 bombers alongside three Japanese F-35 stealth fighters and three F-15 jets, flying near western Japan’s airspace over waters between Japan and South Korea.
The drills follow a series of recent Chinese military actions, including a joint flight of Chinese and Russian bombers near western Japan that prompted Tokyo to scramble fighter jets, and separate Chinese incidents where radar was locked onto Japanese aircraft. Japan’s Joint Staff said the exercises were intended to reaffirm the U.S.-Japan alliance and signal readiness to deter unilateral attempts to alter the regional status quo by force. Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have grown more strained after Japanese leaders warned of potential military involvement if China were to act against Taiwan. Washington reiterated its “unwavering” support for Japan, while China denied targeting Japanese jets and accused Japan of interfering with its operations.