The Russian military flights came after Russia and its quasi-ally, China, sent their nuclear-capable bombers for a joint patrol over the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea i

“We confirmed that Russian military bombers and fighter jets flew over the high seas of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan yesterday, and we scrambled Air Self-Defence Force fighter jets” in response, Mr Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.

A pair of Russian Tu-95 bombers escorted by two Russian fighter aircraft carried out a eight-hour flight over the Sea of Okhotsk and Sea of Japan on Thursday, prompting Japan to scramble fighter aircraft to intercept the bombers as they flew within Japan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ).