A Japanese F-35A stealth fighter. Photo: Kyodo
SCMP: Japan scrambles fighter jets 999 times as Chinese sorties increase
* Chinese military planes were involved in nearly two-thirds of the interceptions made by Japanese fighter jets in the past year
* The number of interceptions is the second highest figure on record
Japanese fighter jets were scrambled 999 times to intercept foreign aircraft over the past financial year – and Chinese military planes were involved in nearly two-thirds of the interceptions.
The number of interceptions was up from 904 the previous year and was the second highest figure on record.
Chinese military aircraft were involved in 638 of the interceptions, up from 500 the previous year, and nearly all of the incidents were in airspace close to Okinawa and above the disputed Diaoyu Islands. The islands are claimed by China but controlled by Japan, which knows them as the Senkaku archipelago.
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WNU Editor: In this context, the Chinese view towards Japan is priceless .... China asks Japan for concrete measures to improve ‘sensitive’ and ‘fragile’ relationship (SCMP).
