Japan was put on high alert as Russian aircraft flew near the archipelago for the first time in five years. The Russian Tu-142 planes flew from the sea between Japan and South Korea towards Okinawa, then north over the Pacific Ocean toward Hokkaido, but did not enter Japanese airspace. This incident comes amid escalating tensions between Japan and Russia, who both claim the Kuril Islands, also known as the Northern Territories.
Earlier in the week, Russian and Chinese warships conducted joint drills in the Sea of Japan as part of a major naval exercise described by President Vladimir Putin as the largest in three decades. This cooperation between Russia and China has intensified in recent years, presenting a united front against perceived US dominance in global affairs.
The relationship between Japan and Russia has soured since the conflict in Ukraine, with the two nations at odds over the Kuril Islands dispute. The Soviet Union took control of the islands at the end of World War II and has since maintained a military presence there.
© 2024 AFP
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