Japanese fighter jets scrambled to intercept three Chinese aircraft, including a drone, near Okinawa on Monday, according to Japan’s Joint Staff.
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force intercepted a BZK-005 high-altitude reconnaissance drone, a Y-9 intelligence-gathering aircraft and a Y-9 patrol aircraft that flew between Okinawa and Miyako Island, 175 miles to the southwest, a spokesman for the Joint Staff told Stars and Stripes on Tuesday. Miyako is part of Okinawa prefecture.
The spokesman declined to provide details of the Self-Defense Force response, including how many and what type aircraft responded, what time the incidents occurred or what action the aircraft took in the air. None of the Chinese aircraft entered Japanese air space, he said.
B.C. Begley 