The Air Self-Defense Force scrambled planes in response to three Chinese military aircraft spotted in the airspace between the main island of Okinawa and Miyakojima island in Okinawa Prefecture, the Defense Ministry announced Thursday.
Although there were no airspace violations, one of the aircraft seen Thursday is believed to have been an unmanned TB-001, making it the third consecutive day of Chinese drone sightings in the area from Tuesday.
The three aircraft flew from the East China Sea to the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, and then returned to the East China Sea. The ministry is looking into possible motives behind China's actions.
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