U.S. strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons and Japanese fighters flew in formation over the Sea of Japan, Tokyo said today, a show of force that follows aerial exercises by Russia and China in recent days in the skies and waters around Japan and South Korea.

Japan and the US “reaffirmed their strong determination to prevent any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force and reaffirmed the readiness” of their armed forces with the exercise, a press release from the Japanese defence ministry said.

Two U.S. strategic B-52 bombers flew in formation with six Japanese fighters yesterday, the same source explained.

The move followed the joint flight of Chinese and Russian strategic bombers in the East China Sea and Western Pacific the day before yesterday and China’s separate aerial drills, during which the Japanese armed forces hastily launched fighters and complained that Chinese fighters “lit them up” with their fire-control radars.

South Korea also said it hastily scrambled fighters when Chinese and Russian aircraft entered its air defense zone the day before yesterday (Tuesday).

The escalating tensions in the region are being recorded against a backdrop of a dispute sparked by Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takayichi, suggesting her country would intervene if Taiwan was attacked by China.

China considers Taiwan its province and has never ruled out the use of force to reunite it with the mainland. The island is just 100 kilometres from Japanese territory and is surrounded by sea lanes vital to Tokyo.