On February 4th, 2020, twenty-eight F-15Js, thirteen F-2s, and four F-4s for a total of forty-five fighters from the JASDF conducted joint-training with two B-52s and six F-16s of the USAF in the airspace around Japan. The two B-52s and 13 F-2s conducted simulated strikes with the F-16s providing escort.
A submarine believed to be Chinese was detected in the contiguous zone of an island called Amamioshima on June 18th. It was then detected on June 20th in the contiguous zone of an island called Yokoatejima. Both islands are in the southern islands of Kagoshima prefecture. The defense minister instructed a high sense of alert in gathering information and conducting guard and surveillance towards the sub. A P-1, a P-3C, JS Kaga, JS Akizuki, and JS Ashigara were sent to carry out that requirement.