It has been confirmed that when the flight paths of Chinese and Russian bombers that flew as far as south of Shikoku, Japan, on the 9th are extended, they lead all the way to Tokyo.
According to a report by the Yomiuri Shimbun on the 13th, the Chinese-Russian bombers flew southeast on the 9th, passed between Okinawa Island and Miyakojima, then turned about 90 degrees to the left over waters south of Okinawa Island and headed northeast.
The paper analyzed that if the bombers had not turned back south of Shikoku and had continued on a straight course, they would have reached Tokyo as well as Yokosuka, which hosts Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and U.S. Navy bases.
Chinese bombers flew toward Tokyo in 2017, but this is said to be the first time Chinese and Russian military aircraft have moved together along this route.
The paper said, "Chinese military aircraft have often headed toward Guam, where U.S. bases are located, after passing between Okinawa Island and Miyakojima in the past," and assessed this flight path as unusual.
It added, "Part of the flight path overlaps with the sailing route of the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning when, on the 6th, a Chinese carrier-based aircraft conducted a radar illumination (aimed its radar) on a Self-Defense Forces fighter."
In particular, the Yomiuri noted that the Chinese H-6K bomber that flew toward Tokyo on the 9th is a model capable of carrying nuclear missiles. The H-6K can carry nuclear warheads and has the capability to launch the CJ-20 air-to-surface cruise missile with a range of more than 1,500 km.
A Defense Ministry official was quoted as saying there was an intention to show that they could bomb Tokyo.
Meanwhile, the fleet led by the Liaoning continued sailing to encircle the islands of Okinawa Prefecture and then moved toward China.
According to the Joint Staff Office of Japan, from the 5th to the 9th the Liaoning weaved between the islands of Okinawa Prefecture sailing in an S-shape, then proceeded clockwise as if to encircle the waters around Minamidaitojima, and the day before passed between Okinawa Island and Miyakojima heading northwest.
China has been implementing retaliatory measures such as advising against travel and study in Japan following remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting involvement in the event of a Taiwan contingency. It is also continuing shows of force in the military sphere.