Russia’s recent manoeuvres to surveil the skies above Japan have escalated tensions between Japan, China and Taiwan. Russia has established the presence of a new nuclear attack-capable surveillance jet in support of the Chinese army.
As per a recent update from Japan’s defence ministry, the skies above them were keenly patrolled by Russian and Chinese jets. They further detailed that the jets that surveilled their skies consisted of a Russian Tu-95 nuclear warhead-equipped strategic bomber, which took flight from the Sea of Japan and headed for the East China Sea, from where two Chinese H-6 bombers joined them as well, the four aircraft then conducted a joint sortie over the Pacific Ocean.
The sortie was then joined by four J-16 fighter Jets, flying straight through the Miyakijima straight between Japan’s Okinawa and Miyako islands. This area is considered an international maritime route. It’s an extremely sensitive area for Japan from a security perspective.
China, Russia Show of Strength against Japan
After recognising the presence of surveillance jets in the sky, Japan responded by scaling up its fighter jets and increasing surveillance in its Air Defence Identification Zone. Japanese defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi wrote on X
“From the morning through the evening of Tuesday, the 9th, two Russian Tu-95 nuclear-capable bombers flew from the Sea of Japan to the Tsushima Strait, then met up with two Chinese H-6 bombers equipped with long-range missiles in the East China Sea, before flying jointly around Japan between the main island of Okinawa and Miyakojima, and then off the coast of Shikoku in the Pacific Ocean.
9日（火）の午前から夕方にかけて、ロシアの核兵器搭載可能な爆撃機Tu-95×2機が日本海→対馬海峡を飛行し、中国の長射程ミサイルを搭載可能な爆撃機H-6×2機と東シナ海において合流したあと、沖縄本島・宮古島間→太平洋の四国沖まで我が国周辺を共同飛行しました。… pic.twitter.com/6RcWJbM99b
— 小泉進次郎 (@shinjirokoiz) December 9, 2025
Furthermore, along the way, a total of eight Chinese J-16 fighter jets escorted the bombers, and a Russian A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft was spotted.
These repeated joint bomber flights by the two countries not only signify an expansion and intensification of activity around Japan, but are also a clear attempt to demonstrate their authority against Japan, posing a serious security concern for Japan.
In response, the Japan Air Self-Defence Force scrambled fighter jets from the Southwestern Air Defense Force and other divisions and took strict measures against the airspace violations. Thank you to all the members of the Japan Air Self-Defence Force who protect our country’s airspace day and night with their professional response!”
China showcases Anger over the statement
The situation became even more sensitive when South Korea confirmed that seven Russian and two Chinese military aircraft had entered its air defence Zone. These developments have escalated regional tensions significantly. This comes at a time when Beijing is angered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanao Takaichi’s statement, which highlighted that Tokyo would retaliate if China takes any military action against Taiwan that impacts Japan’s security.
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