Russian Planes Interrupted U.S. - Japan Drill: Report

[Elmore Furth]

Source: Reuters

Russian patrol planes this week entered airspace above the Sea of Japan where the United States and Japan were conducting joint military drills, causing a halt to part of the exercises, Japan's Sankei newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku confirmed that the Russian planes had entered the airspace Monday, prompting fighter planes from the U.S.-Japan side to scramble, but did not give details.

Ties between Japan and Russia have been strained since Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit in November to one of four islands claimed by both countries, infuriating Tokyo.

Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara viewed the islands from a plane Saturday. The Sankei speculated that the Russian action could have been in response to the move.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/12/07/world/international-us-japan-russia.html?ref=world

[MilesColtrane]

1. Quit trying to start some shit, Ivan.

Maybe they figure a hot war between North & South Korea could drag both the US and China down?

[formercia]

2. Wars have started over less.

World War I is a good example.

[TheLastMohican]

3. Intelligence gathering in the international space

is a legal practice.
If US claims the whole world belongs to them, it doesn't mean other people nations agree with them.

Same goes for Japan, which started the shitstorm regarding the islands out of the blue. You don't threaten Russian leader whether he wants to visit his own territory unless you have some war plans to put your money where your mouth is.

[Javaman]

4. Maybe the Russians realize that a war in Korea wouldn't be a good thing

for the Russians or for anyone involved.

Perhaps they scuttled the exercises for that reason.

[CBGLuthier]

5. Uhhm, Russia borders the Sea of Japan. Seems they have more right there than us.

I am so sick of this fucking country of ours trying to rule the world. The sooner we fade the sooner the world will heal.

[nalnn]

6. Odd

Umm...What does this incident have to do with the U.S. aside from us being present when it happened. Those islands have been a point of contention between Russia and Japan longer than we've been holding joint operations with the Japanese.

[Baclava]

7. Just a little Russian recon mission - they do love their turboprops

A joint U.S.-Japanese military exercise in the Sea of Japan was suspended when two Russian Il-38 May anti-submarine aircraft flew over the area, the NHK channel said on Wednesday citing the Japanese defense ministry.

The biennial Keen Sword drills were suspended amid fears that the Russian aircraft may obtain top-secret data, the channel reported.

Around 34,000 Japanese military personnel with 40 warships and 250 aircraft joined more than 10,000 U.S. troops with 20 warships and 150 aircraft in the drills in the Sea of Japan, off the southern island of Okinawa.

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20101208/161678562.html