CaliToday (11/12/2025): The skies over East Asia have become the stage for a high-stakes geopolitical standoff. On Thursday, Japan and the United States conducted a significant joint air exercise, a direct and muscular response to recent aggressive maneuvers by Chinese and Russian bombers, and a disturbing radar-lock incident that has rattled diplomatic relations in the region.
 |
| This handout photo taken on December 10 from Japan's Ministry of Defense shows a US Air Force B-52 strategic bomber (bottom) and two Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighter jets conducting a joint exercise over the Sea of Japan (Handout) |
A "Severe Security Environment"
The Japanese Joint Chiefs of Staff did not mince words, stating the drills were conducted amidst an "increasingly severe security environment surrounding our country."
The exercise, executed over the Sea of Japan, was a display of high-end military hardware. It featured:
Two US B-52 Stratofortress bombers: Long-range, heavy strategic bombers capable of delivering massive payloads.
Three Japanese F-35 Lightning IIs: The most advanced stealth fighter jets in the arsenal.
Three Japanese F-15 Eagles: Air superiority fighters.
The operation was explicitly designed to confirm the "strong resolve" of the alliance to prevent "any unilateral change of the status quo by force."
The Trigger: Dragon and Bear in the Sky
The US-Japan drills came barely 24 hours after a provocative joint patrol by Beijing and Moscow. According to Tokyo, two Russian Tu-95 nuclear-capable bombers flew from the Sea of Japan to rendezvous with two Chinese H-6 bombers in the East China Sea. Together, the formation circled the Japanese archipelago, forcing Japan to scramble its own fighter jets in a tense intercept mission.
While Moscow and Beijing described the eight-hour flight as part of a "routine annual cooperation plan," neighbors saw it differently. South Korea also reported airspace incursions, deploying its own jets in response.
The Flashpoint: Radar Lock Incident
Adding fuel to the fire is a dangerous encounter that occurred last Saturday. Japan alleges that J-15 fighter jets launching from China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier locked their fire-control radar onto Japanese aircraft near Okinawa.
Why this matters: Fire-control radar is used to guide weapons to a target. Unlike search radar, "locking on" is often considered a hostile act, one step short of firing.
The United States broke its silence on Wednesday, with the State Department condemning the move. "China's actions are not conducive to regional peace and stability," a spokesperson said, reaffirming that the US commitment to Japan remains "unwavering."
China, however, vehemently denied the accusation. Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun counter-accused Japan of "maliciously hyping up the situation," claiming Japanese jets had intruded into a Chinese training zone to conduct "close-range reconnaissance and harassment."
Political Fallout: The Taiwan Factor
Underlying these military maneuvers is a deep diplomatic freeze between Tokyo and Beijing, exacerbated by the hawkish stance of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
PM Takaichi recently enraged Beijing by suggesting Japan would intervene militarily in any Chinese attack on Taiwan a self-ruled island China claims as its own. While reports from the Wall Street Journal suggested US President Donald Trump had advised Takaichi to dial back the rhetoric, Tokyo has denied these claims. Conversely, the Financial Times reports that Tokyo is actually frustrated by a perceived lack of vocal support from Washington.
Global Concerns
The instability has drawn the attention of NATO. Following a video conference with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte labeled the events "regrettable."
"Security in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions is completely inseparable," Rutte affirmed, signaling that the West is watching the East China Sea closely.