The United States demonstrated the combat power of its bomber force deployed in Japan as diplomatic tensions between the American treaty ally and China deepen.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Why It Matters

The U.S. Air Force regularly rotates its bombers—the B-1B Lancer, the B-2 Spirit and the B-52H Stratofortress—in the Indo-Pacific for Bomber Task Force missions . Four B-1B bombers have been operating from Misawa Air Base in Japan since mid-October.

The bomber mission is part of the Pentagon's efforts to bolster U.S. military presence near China—including F-35 stealth fighter jets and nuclear-powered submarines —to deter aggression from China toward Taiwan , a self-ruled island claimed by Beijing.

Japanese Prime Minister

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