Russia, China Fly Joint Bomber Patrol Near Japan — Tokyo Warns of ‘Clear Show of Force

On December 9–10, 2025, military aircraft from the Russian Aerospace Forces and the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) carried out a joint long-range air patrol near Japanese waters, prompting a strong reaction from the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). 

According to the Japanese Defense Ministry, two Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers flew from the Sea of Japan into the East China Sea, where they rendezvoused with two Chinese H-6 bombers. Their formation was joined by four Chinese J-16 fighter jets, and the aircraft conducted a large-scale patrol between Okinawa and Miyako islands over international waters. Simultaneously, the JSDF also detected additional Russian air force activity in the Sea of Japan, including an A-50 early-warning plane and two Su-30 fighters.

The integrated mission lasted about eight hours, according to Russian reports. Japan’s Defense Minister labeled the operation a “clear show of force,” citing serious national security concerns. The JSDF scrambled jets to monitor the patrol, but no violation of Japanese airspace was confirmed. 

This latest operation underscores an expanding pattern of military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing. Observers note that such patrols are increasingly frequent in the East China Sea and western Pacific—a region already witnessing rising tensions due to territorial disputes and concerns over freedom of navigation. 

For Tokyo, the patrol represents both a symbolic and operational challenge: while conducted in international airspace, the proximity of strategic bombers—some capable of carrying long-range weapons—near Japanese territory raises alarm over potential escalation, surveillance, or destabilizing maneuvers in a sensitive geostrategic zone.

As Japan’s relations with Beijing remain strained, such joint Russian-Chinese military displays are likely to add further pressure on regional stability, complicating diplomatic efforts and defense postures across East Asia