Two Chinese naval aircraft flew close to Japan's Senkaku islands in the East China Sea on Wednesday.
The Japanese Defense Ministry said one Y-8 patrol plane and another Y-8 electronics surveillance aircraft from the Chinese Navy flew from north to south over the East China Sea shortly after noon.
The ministry said as the 2 planes approached Japanese airspace over the Senkaku islands, fighter jets of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force scrambled to check them. It said the Chinese planes turned to west and vacated the area.
The ministry said although the Chinese aircraft did not enter Japanese territorial airspace, they got close to it, at about 60 kilometers off the Senkaku islands.
The ministry said it's the first time that Chinese military aircraft have so closely approached the islands, which are also claimed by China.
China has strengthened its naval activities in the East China Sea in recent years, raising concerns in Japan and the United States.
Wednesday, March 02, 2011 21:58 +0900 (JST)
China aims at Okinawa invasion next to Senkaku Islands.
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Intriguing theory you have. I'm sure the United States will allow them to do that without raising any complaints.