Russian warplanes orbital around Japanese territories
Relations between Russia and Japan have taken a nose dive since the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Moscow's actions have sparked a response from Japan's Defense Ministry with a plane flyby. This isn't the first time such an incident has occurred.
Japan scrambled fighter jets following two Russian aircraft that circled the nation. The Russian aircraft stayed within international waters, as confirmed by the Defense Ministry.
Throughout the day, a Russian Tu-142 aircraft reportedly flew from the sea towards the southern region of Okinawa. In response, the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force hastily deployed fighter jets, as per the ministry's statement.
The Russian aircraft allegedly concluded its flightpath over the Hokkaido Islands in the north. As per the ministry, the aircraft also traversed the Kuriles, a contentious territory between Japan and Russia.
This week, Russian and Chinese warships commenced joint exercises in the Sea of Japan. These exercises are part of a massive naval drill, as described by Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking the largest in three decades. Russia and China's military cooperation has seen a spike in recent years, aiming to counteract what they perceive as US dominance.
The last time Russian military aircraft flew over Japan was in 2019. At that time, the bombers invaded Japanese airspace, according to a ministry official. Relations between Japan and Russia have witnessed a significant decline since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The Japanese government has expressed concerns to The Commission about the increasing Russian military activities near its territorial borders. In light of these incidents, The Commission is urging both nations to engage in diplomatic dialogue to prevent any escalation in tensions.
