THE United States deployed nuclear-capable B-52 bombers in a joint flight with Japanese fighter jets over the East Sea on Wednesday, Tokyo confirmed on Thursday, in a direct demonstration of military readiness following recent Chinese and Russian drills near Japanese and South Korean airspace.
Reuters cited on Thursday that Japan’s Ministry of Defence said the manoeuvre involved two U.S. B-52 strategic bombers flying in formation alongside six Japanese jets.
The exercise was described as a reaffirmation of the close military partnership between Japan and the United States.
“Japan and the U.S. reaffirmed their strong resolve to prevent any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force and confirmed the readiness posture of both the Self-Defense Forces and U.S. forces,” the ministry said in a statement.
The term “East Sea” can refer to different bodies of water depending on the context. In general geographical terms, it may denote any sea located to the east of a particular country or region, such as the East China Sea, which lies east of China.
In an international context, the “East Sea” (Donghae) is the name preferred by South Korea for the body of water internationally known as the Sea of Japan. The naming dispute arises from historical and political considerations, with South Korea arguing that “East Sea” reflects its historical usage, while older maps and texts may use the term more broadly to indicate seas located east of a landmass.
The aerial show of strength came in response to a series of provocations by Beijing and Moscow. On Tuesday, Chinese and Japanese strategic bombers conducted a joint flight over the East China Sea and western Pacific, while Chinese aircraft carrier drills reportedly targeted Japanese jets with radar, prompting emergency scrambles. South Korea’s military also dispatched fighter jets when Chinese and Russian aircraft entered its air defence zone.
The heightened military activity in the region follows remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi last month regarding Tokyo’s potential response to a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan.
The comments have inflamed tensions with Beijing, which claims Taiwan and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control over the self-governed island.
Taiwan lies just over 100 kilometres from Japanese territory and sits astride vital sea lanes crucial to Japan’s trade and security.
The joint U.S.-Japan flight underscores the two allies’ determination to maintain regional stability and deter any attempts to alter the status quo by force, reflecting growing concern over the increasing frequency and intensity of Chinese and Russian military operations near Japan and South Korea. - December 11, 2025
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