What's New
The United States and its security treaty ally Japan conducted an aerial military exercise over the Western Pacific Ocean on Monday, which mobilized an American strategic bomber.
Newsweek has reached out to the Russian and Chinese defense ministries, as well as the North Korean Embassy in Beijing, China, for comment by email.
Why It Matters
The U.S.-Japan drill came after Russia and its quasi-ally China sent nuclear-capable bombers to the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea in South Korea, as well as the East China Sea and the waters east of the so-called first island chain in late November.
The Russian and Chinese bombers, together with supporting fighter jets, spy planes and aerial refueling aircraft, conducted their ninth joint aerial patrol since 2019. Japan and South Korea, another U.S. security ally, scrambled fighter jets to intercept the joint patrol.
What To Know
The U.S.-Japan aerial exercise was carried out over the waters of the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and the Philippine Sea southeast of Japan's Okinawa Island, which are located on the first island chain that extends from Japan southward to the Philippines via Taiwan.
Under a U.S. defense concept, the first island chain forms a north-south blockade against China, seeking to leverage allied and friendly territories to contain the Chinese military in the region. The U.S. military has also stationed forces in Japan.
The U.S. military sent 22 aircraft for the exercise, including one B-52H strategic bomber, six F-16 combat aircraft, four F-22 and four F-35A stealth fighter jets, four F-18 fighter jets and three EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft. The Japanese sent 13 F-15 jets.
According to the U.S. Air Force, the B-52H can carry 70,000 pounds of nuclear or conventional ordnance. There are currently 76 B-52H aircraft in service, 46 of which are equipped to carry nuclear weapons.
The joint drill was conducted in response to an increasingly tense security environment surrounding Japan, the Japanese Defense Ministry said in a press release, which included the intensification of activities that pose serious security concerns around the country.
What People Are Saying
The U.S. Pacific Air Forces said on X (formerly Twitter): "The strong security commitment of the USAF-JASDF [the U.S. Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force] partnership is consistently built upon with regular exercises displaying Air Forces cooperation."
The Japan Joint Staff of the Defense Ministry said on X: "This bilateral exercise reaffirms the strong intention between Japan and the U.S. not to tolerate unilateral changes to the status quo by force, the readiness of JSDF [Japan Self-Defense Forces] and U.S. Forces, and further strengthens the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance."
What Happens Next
The U.S. military is likely to continue to conduct exercises with Japan and South Korea as Washington is committed to enhancing security cooperation between the three allied nations, countering Russia and China, as well as the nuclear-armed North Korea.
English (US) ·