What the article doesn't say is that we maintain a full-time RJ presence in the region, through the basing of two RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft on Okinawa, part of a USAF strategic "wing" based there (may have been downsized to a group or squadron in recent years). At one time, I believe the unit was the 376th Strategic Wing, but the designation may have changed. Would appreciate any correction/update from any former RJ types in the audience. BTW, during my own "crew dog" days, I worked with RJ crews during several operations. Their skill--and the capabilities of their platform--never failed to impress me. The only down side was that it was difficult to get them to "sanitize" some of the stuff they were collecting and pass it on their SECRET-level secure radio network.
Incidentially, the only platform I ever worked with that compared even remotely to RJ was the British Nimrod, configured for SIGINT collection with many of the same systems used on the RC-135. The British back end crews were always helpful and exceptionally skilled....my regards to the airborne SIGINT community from an ex-"Bookshelf" back ender....
FAS or some other website may have the current deployment information on the rivet joints down in Oki. You are right; the Japanese did not report that they are also full time in the region. They did pick up, I thought quite well, this newest development with 'combat sent', though.