[Japan's Ministry of Defense reports Chinese military aircraft flying along the waters near Okinawa for three consecutive days]
According to information released by Japan's Ministry of Defense's Joint Staff Office on September 7, 2026: From morning to afternoon on September 5, a Chinese military Y-9 intelligence gathering aircraft was confirmed flying in from the mainland direction, changing course over the East China Sea near the main island of Okinawa and heading northeastward. Subsequently, it changed direction again near the Noto Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture, then flew back toward the mainland.
On the afternoon of September 6, a Chinese military Y-9 intelligence gathering aircraft was confirmed flying in from the mainland direction, traveling across the East China Sea and turning southwestward after passing south of the Noto Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture. It then turned back near the main island of Okinawa, heading northeast, before changing course once more south of the Noto Islands and returning toward the mainland.
On the afternoon of September 7, a Chinese military Y-9 intelligence gathering aircraft was confirmed flying in from the mainland direction, traversing airspace over the East China Sea and turning southwestward after passing south of the Noto Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture. It turned back near the main island of Okinawa and headed northeast, then changed course again south of the Noto Islands before flying back toward the mainland.
In response, Japan's Air Self-Defense Force’s Western Air Defense Force and other units scrambled fighter jets for emergency interception.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875680744270851/
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