Japan confirmed that Chinese and Russian strategic bombers conducted a joint long-range patrol around its airspace on Tuesday, prompting Tokyo to scramble fighter jets for monitoring. The Japanese Defense Ministry reported that two Russian Tu-95 nuclear-capable bombers flew from the Sea of Japan toward the East China Sea, joining two Chinese H-6 bombers before proceeding into the Pacific Ocean. Later, four Chinese J-16 fighters joined the formation near Okinawa and Miyako islands. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi described the operation as a clear show of force against Japan and a serious concern for national security. Russia’s Defense Ministry said the joint flight lasted eight hours, while South Korea also detected several Russian and Chinese aircraft entering its air defense identification zone. The patrol follows an incident where Chinese carrier-based jets allegedly targeted Japanese aircraft with radar. The coordinated patrol underscores deepening China-Russia military cooperation amid regional tensions over Taiwan and maritime boundaries. Analysts warn that such maneuvers could heighten the risk of miscalculation in the Indo-Pacific.