Russian, Chinese Surveillance Aircraft and Ships Operate near Japan, Officials Say

Russian and Chinese air and intelligence assets were tracked operating around Japan over the weekend, according to officials from the island country. “Even at this very moment, as the world’s attention is focused on the Middle East, the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces never cease their surveillance and monitoring activities around Japan, nor their measures against airspace violations, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said in a statement shared Monday to social media platform X. On Friday, two Russian Tu-142 Maritime Patrol Aircraft conducted a flight around Japan, according to the