The number of scrambles (see below) by Air Self-Defense Force fighters against Chinese aircraft in the April-June quarter this year was up more than 80 from the 114 in the same period last year, SDF Chief of Joint Staff Katsutoshi Kawano said at a press conference on Thursday. Kawano also said there were cases in which Chinese aircraft approached the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture.
The Chinese military has been engaging in provocative activities at sea and in the air since early June, as exemplified by the intrusion of Chinese warships into the contiguous zone off the Senkakus. The government is heightening its alert.
Scrambles against Chinese aircraft in this quarter were level with the about 200 times — a record high for any quarter — in the January-March quarter this year. The number of scrambles has been released on a country-by-country quarterly basis since fiscal 2001.
On a half-year basis, the number of scrambles in January-June this year increased by 50 percent from that of July-December last year.
“We have observed that Chinese military aircraft have flown southward and engaged in activities near the Senkakus,” said Kawano at the press conference.
“Their activities seem to be expanding and we are concerned about Chinese military activities in general, including the movement of naval ships,” he added.
According to government sources, generally Chinese aircraft in the East China Sea tended to stay in a certain area north of the Senkakus. However, in multiple cases recently, they have been advancing southward in the direction of the Senkakus, although they have not attempted to approach Japanese airspace near the islands.
On June 17, an ASDF F-15 fighter jet scrambled against a Chinese fighter jet that flew southward in the direction of the Senkakus. According to government sources, the ASDF fighter approached the Chinese jet and issued a warning. However, the Chinese jet refused to immediately retreat, which resulted in both jets flying at each other several times. To avoid danger, the ASDF fighter launched a flare as a decoy against potential incoming missiles before retreating from the area.
Senior officials of the Defense Ministry said similar incidents have occurred several times in the past. At the press conference, Kawano said: “We would make announcements if there was a dangerous incident. I don’t think it applies in this case, though.”
■ Scramble
When an incursion into Japanese airspace by a foreign aircraft seems imminent, Air Self-Defense Force fighters immediately take off to monitor or warn the aircraft. The operation started in 1958. In fiscal 2015, there were 873 scrambles, including 571 against Chinese aircraft and 288 against Russian aircraft.
