Chinese military aircraft flew through a strategic waterway between Okinawa's main island and the island of Miyakojima a record 36 times in fiscal 2017, the Japanese Defense Ministry has announced, as China seeks to extend its reach further into the Western Pacific with what it calls "regular" exercises.
The number of flights over the strategic waterway between Okinawa Island and Miyakojima hit a record high of 36 in fiscal 2017, which ended in March, the ministry said Friday.
But although China has been bolstering its operations in the area, the ministry noted a sharp fall in the number of scrambles against Chinese aircraft by Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets in response. That figure fell from a total of 851 in fiscal 2016 to 500 in 2017.