Japan scrambled fighter jets in response to a joint flight by Russian and Chinese bombers
Japan scrambled fighter jets to monitor the manoeuvres of Russian and Chinese military aircraft that carried out joint patrols near its territory. This was reported by The Public with reference to Reuters.
According to the ministry, two Russian Tu95 strategic bombers, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, took off from the Sea of Japan and headed towards the East China Sea. There they met with two Chinese H6 bombers, after which the pairs of aircraft performed a long joint flight over the Pacific Ocean.
The group was joined by four Chinese J16 fighters, which passed between the islands of Okinawa and Miyako. This strait is considered international waters, but it is of strategic importance to Japan. At the same time, Russian aircraft activity was observed in the Sea of Japan, including an A50 early warning aircraft and two Su30 fighters.
Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said that the joint flights appear to be a deliberate show of force and are a serious concern for national security. He stressed that Japan is closely monitoring the situation and cooperating with its partners.
Tokyo regularly responds to Russian and Chinese flights in the region, but the scale and coordination of the latest operation have caused particular alarm.
