An H-6 bomber detected near the airspace of Okinawa. (Photo/JASDF)

PLA Air Force aircraft were spotted near Okinawan airspace for three consecutive days in late October, according to Japanese national broadcaster Nippon Hoso Kyokai.

The Japanese defense ministry claimed that this is the first time the PLA has flown formations of four aircraft over Japan’s air defense identification zone in a long period of time. The formation consisted of two Y-8 early warning aircraft and two H-6 strategic bombers. The Chinese aircraft flew past the Miyako waterway towards a naval exercise hundreds of kilometers south of Okinawa.

F-15J fighters from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force were sent to intercept the Chinese aircraft should they intrude on Japanese airspace. The defense ministry is looking into whether the aircraft have anything to do with the Mobile 5 naval exercise taking place in the west Pacific.

China’s national broadcaster China Central Television criticized the actions of the Japanese fighters, saying Chinese aircraft and vessels have an equal right to conduct exercises in the western Pacific and complained of foreign aircraft and ships monitoring and harassing the movements of Chinese planes and ships in the region. At a press conference on Oct. 26, Chinese defense spokesperson Geng Yansheng said China would never trespass on foreign airspace.

China will likewise not tolerate foreign aircraft in its airspace, Geng added. He urged the Japanese side not to shoot down Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles over the East China Sea. An attack against a Chinese drone would certainly attract return fire from fighters of PLA Air Force and Navy Air Force, Geng said.

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Geng Yansheng　　耿雁生