Japan sends fighters as Chinese jets pass Miyako Strait

Japan scrambled its fighter jets as Chinese air force planes passed the Miyako Strait in Okinawa prefecture, the Defence Ministry said.

Six Chinese airplanes, including two fighters, flew over the Miyako Strait between Okinawa's main island and Miyako Island, ABS-CBN news reported on Saturday, citing the ministry statement.

However, there was no actual infringement of Japanese territorial air space, it said.

A similar incident occurred in September in the area when eight Chinese airplanes, including fighters, passed over the strait, prompting an alert by the ministry. It was the first such passage through the area by Chinese military aircraft.

According to the Japanese Defence Ministry's Joint Staff Office, four airplanes, including H-6 bombers and intelligence-gathering aircraft, flew in the Pacific Ocean toward East China Sea, passing over the Miyako Strait.

Two Su-30 fighter jets that passed the strait from the opposite direction made u-turns to join the four other aircraft before flying to the East China Sea, the ministry added.

--IANS

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