Japan scrambles fighter jets to intercept Chinese spy plane after South Korea lodges protest
Anti-submarine surveillance jet also sent out when PLA Navy frigate sailed through waters 100km northeast of Japan
Japan’s defence ministry said it scrambled fighter jets to intercept a Chinese electronic surveillance aircraft over the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, on Friday, after South Korea did the same when a PLA warplane entered its air defence identification zone the same day.
The Japan Self-Defence Forces sent fighter jets after the Y-9, which flew from the East China Sea to near Socotra Rock – known as Ieodo in Korea and Suyan Rock in China – before flying over the Sea of Japan, according to a Japanese defence ministry statement.
The Chinese aircraft then returned along the same route to the East China Sea without entering Japanese airspace, the statement said.
A Japanese P-1 anti-submarine surveillance jet was also sent out at about 2pm on Friday when a PLA Navy Type 054 frigate sailed through waters about 100km northeast to Japan near its Tsushima Island and into the East China Sea, the defence ministry said in a separate statement.
Japan’s defence ministry did not give any details of how long the Chinese spy plane or warship stayed in the area and did not say whether there was any direct interaction between the two sides.