On disputed islands in the East China Sea
Japan has
doubled the number of F-15J fighter jets deployed on the southern island of
Okinawa, near disputed islands in the East China Sea, Japan defence ministry declared.
Japan’s Air Self-Defence Force was about 20 F-15Js on Okinawa’s Naha air base
and now about 40, according to the ministry.
The move
comes as Japan and China have routinely clashed over ownership of the
Tokyo-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. Japan administers the
uninhabited islands under that name but China also claims them and calls them
the Diaoyus. Chinese ships, mostly coast guard vessels, and aircraft have
approached them to back up Beijing’s claims and test Japan’s response.