Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera on Saturday denied Beijing's claim that it scrambled fighter jets in response to Self-Defense Forces aircraft that had entered China's new air defense identification zone, saying Tokyo has received no such reports.
"There have been no abnormal situations, such as (Chinese) aircraft suddenly approaching (SDF planes in the ADIZ), as announced by China yesterday," Onodera, surrounded by reporters, said Saturday morning.
"We don't have the impression that the Chinese side's reaction has suddenly changed after the establishment of the air defense identification zone" in the East China Sea, Onodera said in footage aired by NHK.