SEOUL, South Korea — The United States deployed nuclear-capable B-52 bombers accompanied by Japanese fighters over the Sea of Japan in the first joint display of force by the allies since a sharp diplomatic dispute between Tokyo and Beijing began last month.
Japan’s Joint Staff said the exercise involved two U.S. B-52 strategic bombers and six Japanese F-35 and F-15 jets. “This bilateral exercise reaffirms the strong will between Japan and U.S. not to tolerate unilateral changes to the status quo by force,” the statement said — a phrase often used by Tokyo in reference to Taiwan, which Beijing claims.
The drill followed joint Chinese-Russian bomber and fighter flights on Tuesday that prompted Japan and South Korea to scramble aircraft to monitor them. South Korea lodged a diplomatic protest over that sortie. Tokyo and Beijing have also traded accusations that each side locked weapons-targeting radars onto the other’s planes during Chinese carrier drills near Japanese waters.
Japan has reported a rise in Chinese naval activity around Okinawa prefecture and other southwestern islands near Taiwan. Akira Saito, chief of staff of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, told reporters China’s naval operations are “unusually active,” and Japan has observed an expansion in the areas where China is operating. Tokyo sees some of the maneuvers as pressure related to the monthlong feud with Beijing.
The dispute erupted after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Nov. 7 that a Chinese naval blockade of Taiwan could justify mobilizing Japan’s military. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun responded that China’s exercises were routine and lawful, saying Japan “has no need to make a fuss about nothing or to take this personally.”
Washington has been focused on implementing a trade and economic deal agreed by President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in late October. Until this week, the Trump administration had not publicly criticized China over the bilateral spat with Japan. In a statement to NPR, the State Department said, “China’s actions are not conducive to regional peace and stability,” and affirmed, “The U.S.-Japan Alliance is stronger and more united than ever. We remain unwaveringly committed to our ally Japan and are in close contact.”
Japan’s Defense Ministry posted that Defense Minister Junichiro Koizumi is scheduled to speak by phone with his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, on Friday.
NPR’s Jackie Northam contributed reporting.