Russia, China Joint Drills Fuel Japan Tensions Amid Radar Lock

• Tensions between China and Japan are escalating, with Russia's entry further increasing regional strain.
• Russian Tu-95 bombers and Chinese H-6 bombers, joined by J-16 fighter jets, conducted joint flights from the Sea of Japan to the East China Sea.
• Japan deployed fighter jets to monitor the Russian and Chinese air forces and is strengthening military facilities on its Ryukyu archipelago.
• Chinese naval aircraft locked fire-control radar on Japanese F-15 jets near Okinawa, which Japan protested as dangerous.
• Long-standing disputes over Taiwan and the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands continue to fuel tensions, despite deep trade ties between China and Japan.

Why It Matters: Escalating China-Japan-Russia military tensions risk dangerous Pacific conflict.