A Chinese Y-9 intelligence-gathering aircraft photographed near Okinawa, Japan, on Nov. 14, 2022. (Japan Ministry of Defense)
NHK: Japan Defense Ministry: Chinese military aircraft flew near Okinawa
Japan's Defense Ministry says three Chinese military aircraft flew between islands of Okinawa Prefecture and out to the Pacific on Monday.
The ministry says a BZK-005 reconnaissance drone, a Y9 intelligence-gathering aircraft and a Y9 patrol plane were confirmed to have passed between Okinawa's main island and Miyako Island from Monday morning through the afternoon.
The three aircraft continued to fly over the Pacific to the east of Okinawa's main island, and then took the same route back to the East China Sea.
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Update: Japan scrambles fighters for Chinese aircraft near Okinawa (Stars And Stripes)
WNU Editor: Okinawa is critical to the security of both Japan and the U.S., and the Chinese know that .... Okinawa Key to Japan’s Defense Against China, North Korea, Says Expert (USNI News).