NHK WorldSeveral Japanese Self-Defense Force planes were scrambled on Saturday after 5 Chinese military aircraft were observed in the vicinity of the main island of Okinawa.
The Defense Ministry says a Chinese Y9 intelligence gathering plane, 2 Y8 early warning planes and 2 H6 bombers flew southward over the East China Sea. The 5 aircraft flew over an area between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island before heading toward the Pacific Ocean. The aircraft travelled to a point about 50 kilometers off Okinawa before turning around and returning to the East China Sea.
The aircraft did not violate Japanese airspace.
This is the first time in 9 months that Chinese military aircraft have made a return flight between the East China Sea and the Pacific after passing through an area between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island.
The Defense Ministry is analyzing the purpose of the flight.
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