CHINA-JAPAN: INCREASE IN PLAAF INTRUSIONS IN JAPAN AIR SPACE
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Japan’s National Institute of Defence Studies said on April 17, that Japan scrambled fighter jets 999 times as Chinese sorties increased last financial year. The number of interceptions is the second highest figure on record. 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. Japanese fighters also came up against unmanned aircraft, including a drone found about 160km to the north of the uninhabited Diaoyus in April. Russian aircraft were involved in 343 of the interceptions, primarily off Hokkaido. “China has stated it intends to expand its military presence and capabilities in the maritime domain and in terms of the airspace it utilises".
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