US bomber drills counter Russia and China’s air force patrol

The United States dispatched two bombers to Japan for exercises on Wednesday, a day after Russian and Chinese military aircraft “patrolled” near the U.S. ally’s territory.

Newsweek has reached out to China‘s Foreign Ministry for comment by email. Russia‘s Defense and Foreign Ministries did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Why It Matters

Japan is a vital U.S. treaty ally, where about 60,000 American troops are stationed along with stealth fighter jets, an aircraft carrier and missile defense systems. The two allies regularly conduct joint war games to bolster their readiness amid what Tokyo describes as “the most severe and complex security environment” since World War II.

The Russia-China joint bomber patrol, carried out on Tuesday, came amid rising tensions between Tokyo and the Moscow-Beijing quasi-alliance. Japan has faced criticism from the two countries for hosting a U.S. mid-range missile system and for its remarks about possible military intervention in the event of a Chinese blockade of self-ruled Taiwan.

What To Know

The U.S. Air Force deployed two B-52H bombers for tactical exercises over Japan’s waters on Wednesday, along with three F-35 and three F-15 fighter jets from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the Joint Staff Office under Japan’s Defense Ministry said.

According to the Federation of American Scientists’ Nuclear Information Project, the U.S. operates 76 B-52H bombers, but only 46 are capable of carrying nuclear cruise missiles. It remains unclear whether the bombers sent to Japan were nuclear-capable.

The Joint Staff Office said the bilateral war game aimed to demonstrate the “strong will” of Japan and the U.S. not to tolerate unilateral changes to the status quo by force.

This marked the second U.S. bomber mission with Japan since mid-November, when a group of B-1B bombers concluded their deployment—commenced in mid-October—at Misawa Air Base in Japan, which helped reinforce regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.

The latest allied air drills also came after the Chinese military deployed an aircraft carrier-led naval task force near Japan, which led to a “radar lock-on” incident between the two militaries’ fighter jets, further straining already tense Beijing-Tokyo relations.

In addition to bomber deployments, the U.S. has maintained a dual presence of aircraft carriers in the western Pacific to deter China. One of them, the USS George Washington, returned to its home port in Yokosuka, Japan, on Thursday after completing missions.

Meanwhile, another U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, arrived in Guam—the westernmost U.S. territory in the Pacific—for a port visit on the same day, following its departure from San Diego for a Pacific deployment in late November.

“Our Strike Group presence in 7th Fleet waters demonstrates our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Rear Admiral Todd Whalen, commander of the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, adding that the visit will help enhance mission readiness.

The 7th Fleet is responsible for U.S. naval operations across the western Pacific. One of its assigned vessels is the George Washington, which is permanently deployed in Japan and spends about half of each year at sea to provide long-range strike capability.

What People Are Saying

The Joint Staff Office under Japan’s Defense Ministry said: “This bilateral exercise reaffirms the strong will between Japan and U.S. not to tolerate unilateral changes to the status quo by force. This also demonstrates the readiness of [Japan Self-Defense Forces] and U.S. Armed Forces, and further strengthens the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance.”

The U.S. Pacific Air Forces said: “Training together reaffirms our commitment to the U.S.-Japan Alliance and strengthens deterrence to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

U.S. Navy Captain Tim Waits, commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, said: “Our mission is to preserve the peace, respond in crisis, and win decisively in war…Our presence in the Indo-Pacific and integration with our allies and partners gives us a strategic advantage that enables mission success.”

What Happens Next

It remains to be seen whether the U.S. military will further enhance its force posture in the western Pacific amid regional tensions by deploying additional aircraft and vessels.