US-Japan Joint Military Exercise Amid Escalating Tensions with China

US strategic bombers joined Japanese jets in a military exercise to demonstrate cooperation amid heightened tensions with China. The drill followed Chinese and Russian joint bomber flights near Japan, exacerbating Tokyo-Beijing relations. Japan and the US affirmed their resolve against forceful status quo changes.

In a show of military solidarity, US strategic bombers and Japanese fighter jets engaged in a joint exercise aimed at demonstrating their cooperative defense capabilities amid soaring tensions with China, defense officials reported on Thursday.

The exercise occurred a day after Chinese and Russian bombers conducted joint maneuvers around western Japan, prompting a quick response from Tokyo, although no airspace violations were reported. This followed a recent radar-locking incident between Chinese and Japanese aircraft, further straining relations between Tokyo and Beijing.

The drill involved two US B-52 bombers alongside Japanese F-35 and F-15 jets near Japan's western airspace, signaling a firm stance from the allies against any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo by force.

(With inputs from agencies.)