The Japanese and American air forces have been rehearsing combat operations together just two days after Chinese and Russian planes moved in close proximity to Japanese airspace. With this move, the Allies are sending a clear message that they will not allow any violent change to the status quo in the region.
US and Japanese military aircraft participated in a joint military exercise on Wednesday, the Japanese General Staff announced. The maneuvers demonstrated the countries’ strength two days after Chinese and Russian planes patrolled near Japanese airspace, TASR reports, according to an AFP report.
- American and Japanese military aircraft participated in a joint exercise.
- The motivation for the exercises was the deteriorating security situation near Japan.
- Chinese and Russian patrols approached Japanese airspace.
Deteriorating security situation
“Through these exercises, we have confirmed the firm determination of Japan and the United States not to allow any unilateral change to the status quo through force, as well as the readiness of the Self-Defense Forces and the US Armed Forces,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at Platform X on Thursday.
Japan’s General Staff clarified on Wednesday that the exercise with the US Air Force was held as part of “the ever-deteriorating security situation around the country.”
USA: China’s actions do not contribute to regional peace and stability
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament in early November that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Japan. Beijing reacted sharply to this, which includes, among other things, a boycott of travel to Japan. Communist China considers Taiwan part of its territory and does not rule out the use of force to gain control over it. Self-governing Taiwan rejects Beijing’s claims and emphasizes that only its people can decide the future.
The United States on Wednesday criticized Beijing for the first time after its warplanes targeted Japanese fighter jets over international waters off Okinawa. “China’s actions do not contribute to regional peace and stability,” a US State Department spokesman told AFP on Wednesday. “The US-Japan alliance is stronger and more united than ever before. Our commitment to our ally – Japan – is unwavering and we are in close contact on this and other issues,” he added.
Blaming each other
Tokyo has summoned the Chinese ambassador after the radar incident. Japan claimed it sent its fighter jets out of concern about possible “violation of airspace”. The Chinese military responded that its fighters also picked up radar signals from Japanese planes.
A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry accused Japan on Wednesday that its fighter jets “intruded into China’s training area without permission, conducted close-up reconnaissance, harassed and created a tense situation.”
