Tokyo: Russia and China carried out a joint air patrol near Japan on Tuesday, adding new tension to an already sensitive region. Japan said the long flight was a show of military strength at a time when relations between Tokyo and Beijing are strained.
According to the Japanese defence ministry, two Russian Tu 95 bombers and two Chinese H 6 bombers flew together over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. The aircraft then continued over the western Pacific in what officials described as an eight hour patrol. Japan scrambled its fighter jets to monitor the formation.
The ministry also reported additional Russian aircraft in the area, including an A 50 early warning plane and two Su 30 fighters operating near the Sea of Japan. Officials said the increased activity posed a serious concern for national security.
China later confirmed that the flight was part of its tenth joint strategic air patrol with Russia in the region. Chinese defence authorities said the mission followed international rules and was not directed at any specific country.
South Korea also reacted to the air activity. Its military said that several Russian and Chinese aircraft briefly entered the South Korean air defence identification zone. South Korea sent its own jets to track the planes, but noted that no airspace violation occurred.
The patrol took place shortly after Japan accused Chinese fighter jets of locking fire control radar onto Japanese aircraft near Okinawa, an incident that led to a strong protest from Tokyo. Japanese leaders have warned that such actions increase the risk of accidents.
Regional observers say the latest joint patrol shows a deepening military partnership between Russia and China. Neighbours such as Japan and South Korea worry that more frequent operations could lead to misunderstandings in the crowded skies of East Asia.
Governments in the region are now watching closely as military activity continues to rise around the East China Sea and the western Pacific.