Japan, US hold joint air exercise after China-Russia patrols

TOKYO, December 12 ------ Japan said it held a joint air exercise with the United States in a show of force, days after Chinese-Russian patrols in the region and following weeks of diplomatic feuding between Tokyo and Beijing.

The Japanese joint chiefs of staff said Wednesday’s exercise with the US Air Force was conducted in “an increasingly severe security environment surrounding our country.” Tokyo said on Wednesday that two Russian Tu-95 nuclear-capable bombers flew a day earlier from the Sea of Japan to rendezvous with two Chinese H-6 bombers in the East China Sea, then conducted a joint flight around the country. Japan said it had scrambled fighter jets in response.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi angered Beijing last month by suggesting that Japan would intervene with military force in any Chinese attack on Taiwan. Thursday’s announcement by Japan’s chiefs of staff said: “We confirmed the strong resolve of Japan and the United States not to allow any unilateral change of the status quo by force, as well as the readiness of the Self-Defense Forces and the US military.”

In a separate statement, it said that the “tactical exercises” over the Sea of Japan involved two US B-52 bombers, three Japanese F-35 fighter jets, and three Japanese F-15s. The joint exercise came as Washington criticized Beijing for the first time on Wednesday after Chinese military aircraft locked radar onto Japanese jets on Saturday.

The J-15 jets from China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier twice locked radar on Japanese aircraft in international waters near Okinawa, said Japan, which scrambled jets in response. “China’s actions are not conducive to regional peace and stability,” a US State Department spokesman told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Wednesday.

‘More united’

“The US-Japan Alliance is stronger and more united than ever. Our commitment to our ally Japan is unwavering, and we are in close contact on this and other issues,” the spokesman said. Fighter jets use their radar for fire control to identify targets, as well as for search and rescue operations. Tokyo also summoned Beijing’s ambassador following the radar incident, over which the two countries offer differing accounts of events.

Japan said it had scrambled its F-15 jets because it was worried about possible “airspace violations.” Guo Jiakun, spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, accused Japan on Wednesday of sending the jets “to intrude into the Chinese training area without authorization, conduct close-range reconnaissance and harassment, create tense situations, and continue to maliciously hype up the situation.”

Takaichi’s comments about intervening in any Taiwan emergency enraged Beijing, as China claims the self-ruled island as its own and has not ruled out seizing it by force. Tokyo was forced to deny a Wall Street Journal report saying US President Donald Trump had advised Takaichi not to provoke China over Taiwan’s sovereignty. But Tokyo is apparently frustrated at the lack of public support from top officials in Washington and has urged the US to be more vocal, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

‘Regrettable’

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday the radar incident and the joint Chinese-Russian patrols were “regrettable.” Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on X. The statement followed a 15-minute video conference between Rutte and Koizumi, the defense ministry said in a statement. But Tokyo is apparently frustrated at the lack of public support from top officials in Washington and has urged the US to be more vocal, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

‘Regrettable’

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday the radar incident and the joint Chinese-Russian patrols were “regrettable.” Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on X. The statement followed a 15-minute video conference between Rutte and Koizumi, the defense ministry said in a statement.

Source: manilatimes.net