• US nuclear-capable bombers flew with Japanese jets over the Sea of Japan.
• The display of military strength follows Chinese and Russian military drills.
• Japan and the US reaffirmed their commitment to counter unilateral aggression.
• Chinese officials criticized Japan's response to their military activities.
• Tensions in the region have intensified following statements from Japanese leadership regarding Taiwan.

US nuclear-capable bombers conducted exercises over the Sea of Japan alongside Japanese fighter jets, marking a pronounced show of force amid ongoing military drills by China and Russia in the area. This joint exercise, which involved two B-52 bombers and multiple Japanese F-35 and F-15 aircraft, highlights the deepening military cooperation between Japan and the United States, particularly in response to regional security threats, according to Reuters, The Jakarta Post, and Channel News Asia.

This military display follows a series of joint flights by Chinese and Russian bombers in the East China Sea and the western Pacific, as the region grapples with heightened military activity. The Japanese Ministry of Defence emphasized that these drills served to "reaffirm the strong commitment of Japan and the US to not allow unilateral changes to the status quo," aiming to enhance deterrence capabilities against potential aggression, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The exercise coincides with reports of increased military activity near South Korea and Taiwan, including a Chinese aircraft carrier operating in close proximity to Japan. Both South Korean and Japanese forces scrambled jets in response to incursions by Chinese and Russian aircraft in their respective air defense identification zones. The intensifying military presence from Beijing has drawn stern responses from both Tokyo and Washington, which have labeled the activities as detrimental to regional peace, as noted by Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.

In response to Japan's concerns regarding Chinese military maneuvers, a spokesperson from China's Foreign Ministry criticized Tokyo for "making a fuss" over their joint exercises with Russia, asserting that it was part of their annual cooperation plan. The comments underscore the rising tensions that have accompanied Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent remarks about the potential for military action in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan, which has only heightened concerns over regional stability, as reported by The Jakarta Post and Reuters.