The Japan Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighter aircraft, the ministry said. It was the first time the ministry has made an announcement after confirming the passing of Chinese bombardment aircraft through a chain of islands off the southwest coast of Japan.
Japan has scrambled fighter jets to head off a number of Chinese military planes since Tokyo put a group of East China Sea islands at the center of a territorial row under state control on Sept. 11, 2012.
Japan has been on alert against Chinese action prior to the first anniversary of its move on the uninhabited islands.
According to the ministry, the two H-6 bombers headed back to China after flying in skies between Okinawa’s main and Miyako islands.
In late July, a Chinese early warning aircraft overflew waters between the two islands, making it the first-ever Chinese military plane to do so.
==Kyodo
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