Russia and China conducted joint strategic air patrols over the Asia-Pacific region, prompting Japan to scramble Self-Defense Force jets and highlighting escalating tensions.Following these patrols, Japan and the US held joint military exercises near Japan's western airspace, demonstrating their alliance's resolve after a Chinese radar-locking incident on Japanese jets last week.US War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi discussed these events today, reaffirming their alliance's strategic role in deterring aggression and addressing the worsening security situation.