 |
| Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan/Handout via REUTERS |
Tokyo, December 12 - In a bold assertion of alliance amid surging regional tensions, U.S. nuclear-capable B-52 strategic bombers soared over the Sea of Japan alongside Japanese F-35 stealth fighters and F-15 air-superiority jets on December 10, 2025, as Tokyo announced the joint exercise as a clear show of force. This synchronized flight, involving two American bombers and six Japanese aircraft, marked the first overt U.S. military projection in the area since China initiated expansive drills last week, underscoring the deepening U.S.-Japan security partnership against escalating threats from Beijing and Moscow. Japan's Defense Ministry emphasized the operation's role in reaffirming both nations' unwavering commitment to deterring unilateral changes to the status quo through force, a stance rooted in their longstanding treaty obligations and shared concerns over East Asian stability.
The maneuver directly followed provocative China-Russia joint military exercises that encircled Japan and South Korea, including a coordinated flight of strategic bombers across the East China Sea and western Pacific on December 9. These activities prompted urgent scrambles of Japanese and South Korean fighter jets, with Tokyo reporting instances of Chinese radar locks on its aircraft during separate carrier group operations south of the archipelago, incidents Beijing dismissed as routine while accusing Japanese forces of endangering its maneuvers. Such escalations have amplified alarms in Tokyo, where officials view the drills as a deliberate display of Sino-Russian solidarity aimed at pressuring U.S. allies, particularly as they coincide with heightened Chinese naval patrols near Okinawa and the Taiwan Strait.
From Tokyo's perspective, the U.S.-Japan aerial display serves as a calibrated response to these provocations, enhancing interoperability between the allies' advanced air forces and signaling readiness to counter any aggression in contested waters. Joint Staff Chief General Hiroaki Uchikura described the China-Russia bomber patrols as a "grave concern" for Japan's security, prompting Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi to voice apprehensions directly to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. While a U.S. official noted the bomber flights were pre-scheduled, the timing amplifies their deterrent value, reinforcing the ironclad U.S. commitment to Japan's defense amid a volatile Indo-Pacific landscape marked by territorial disputes and military buildups.
This episode highlights the intricate balance of power in Asia, where U.S.-Japan military cooperation stands as a bulwark against assertive maneuvers by China and Russia. As Tokyo bolsters its defenses and expands joint training regimens, the region braces for potential flashpoints, with experts urging diplomatic channels to temper the cycle of shows of force. The exercise not only bolsters deterrence but also serves as a reminder of the alliances shaping global security dynamics in an era of great-power rivalry.
