The show of force highlights growing regional tensions as China asserts its military presence.

US nuclear-capable bombers joined Japanese fighter planes for a flight over the Sea of Japan, Tokyo said Thursday.

This comes a day after Chinese and Russian forces completed coordinated drills encircling Japan and South Korea.

“We confirmed the strong resolve of Japan and the United States not to allow any unilateral change of the status quo by force, as well as the readiness of the Self-Defense Forces and the US military,” Japan’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Two US B-52 bombers joined three Japanese F-35 stealth fighters and three F-15 jets in the operation on Wednesday.