Four Russian and Chinese nuclear-powered aircraft flew in formation as the US president met with Quad leaders (Japan, India and Australia) in the Japanese capital.
If it wanted to be a "message" to US President Joe Biden on a visit to East Asia, it certainly was. Russia and China nuclear-capable bombers have flown for 13 hours in formation over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, sparking fierce reactions from Tokyo and the United States.
The exercise came as a surprise as Biden was meeting with Quad leaders - including India and Australia in addition to the United States and Australia. The meeting took place in Tokyo on regional security.
"The demonstration exercise shows that China is continuing its military cooperation with Russia in the Indo-Pacific, even though Russia is brutalizing Ukraine," said a US official. not with other Indo-peaceful states. Nobuo Kishi, the Japanese Minister of Defense, has condemned the military training, calling it "provocative" and "unacceptable."
The planes have violated Japanese airspace, but this is the fourth time since November that joint Russian-Chinese flights have been seen near Japan.
Quad leaders warned against attempts to change the status quo by force (referring most likely to Taiwan, which Biden said he was willing to defend against an invasion of China), while citing above all the war in Ukraine.