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| For the First Time, Japanese F-15J Fighter Successfully Intercepted Chinese Reconnaissance Drones |
Tokyo - Japan launched its fighter jets over the East China Sea after a Chinese reconnaissance drone, the WZ-7, appeared in the area for the second day in a row. This is the first time Japanese authorities have reported an intercept of the WZ-7, one of the most advanced drones in China's military.
The Japanese Defense Ministry on Sunday (1/1/2023) revealed that one WZ-7 drone - a type also known as the High-flying Dragon - had been active in the East China Sea as part of a mission that lasted from morning to evening local time. According to the statement, the Chinese drone appeared over the East China Sea, then passed through the Miyako Strait, which separates the main island of Okinawa and the Miyako Islands. Once it was over the Philippine Sea, the drone flew south of Japan's Sakishima Islands, further west, then reversed course and returned to the main island of Okinawa.
In response, Japan's Ministry of Defense confirmed that warplanes from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Southwest Air Force, or JASDF, were deployed to respond. Unconfirmed reports indicate that an F-15J Eagle fighter jet was involved in the intercept.
The Japanese Defense Ministry again reported activity of another WZ-7 drone, within the same timeframe and flying the same transit route from the East China Sea to the Philippine Sea, approaching the island of Okinawa and other remote Japanese islands. How close the drone approached Japanese territory or Japan's exclusive economic zone is unclear, but there is no indication that the WZ-7 in question departed from international airspace.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense also revealed that the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning had passed through the Miyako Strait on January 1. Transiting from the Philippine Sea to the East China Sea, the carrier is accompanied by Type 055 Anshan and Wuxi People's Liberation Army Navy destroyers, Type 052D Chengdu destroyer, Type 054A frigate Zaozhuang, and Type 901 fast combat support vessel Hulunhu.
According to the Japanese Defense Ministry, between Wednesday and Saturday last week, the Liaoning carried out flight operations involving about 20 launches and recoveries of fighter aircraft and about 40 takeoffs and landings by helicopters. "Once again, JASDF fighter jets were deployed to respond to aircraft carrier activity.
Meanwhile, between 17 to 31 December, the PLAN aircraft carrier completed approximately 320 takeoffs and landings of combat aircraft and helicopters," according to a Japanese Ministry of Defense account as quoted by The Drive, Tuesday (3/1/2023).