Japan jet scrambles against China planes double in Jan-March

The X-2 advanced technological demonstrator plane of the Japanese Air Self-Defence Force takes off at Komaki Airport, on April 22, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
A F-4 jet fighter parks at Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Nyutabaru air base. PHOTO: REUTERS

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's fighter jet scrambles against Chinese planes more than doubled in the first three months of the year, underscoring a "tougher security environment", the Defence Ministry said on Friday (April 22).

Japanese combat planes scrambled 198 times to prevent possible incursions by Chinese planes, up from 93 times from January to March last year.

In the year that ended on March 31, such scrambles rose 23 per cent from a year earlier to a record 571.

"The numbers of scrambles alone do not tell the whole story, but we should recognise that the increase ... indicates a tougher security environment," Kazuhiko Fukuda, head of public affairs at the Japanese Self-Defence Forces' Joint Staff, told reporters.

"China is modernising its air force and is clearly aiming to improve its air combat capability in faraway skies ... Concrete activities based on those targets are reflected in these numbers."

Japan's ties with China have been strained by a dispute over a group of tiny East China Sea islands, regional rivalry and the legacy of Japan's World War II aggression.

Patrol ships and fighter jets routinely shadow each other near the uninhabited islets that are controlled by Japan, raising concern that an unintended collision or other accidents could develop into a larger clash.

China also claims almost the entire South China Sea, believed to have huge deposits of oil and gas. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to parts of the waters, through which about US$5 trillion (S$6.74 trillion) in trade is shipped every year.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.