World
Japanese Fighter Jet Scrambles Against China Have Hit a Record High

Japanese Fighter Jet Scrambles Against China Have Hit a Record High

1 minute read

A Chinese military plane Y-8 airborne early warning plane flies through airspace between Okinawa prefecture's main island and the smaller Miyako island in southern Japan — Japan has scrambled against hundreds of Chinese military planes during the last 12 months, including this aircraft that flew through Japanese airspace on October 27, 2013.© Handout —Reuters

April 10, 2014 12:09 AM EDT

Japan scrambled fighter jet against Chinese planes 415 times during the last 12 months, hitting a record high, the Japanese Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

The number of scrambles is up 36 precent from the previous year, and they come amid increased tensions between the two countries over long and bitter territorial disputes.

Akira Asai, public affairs director of the Defense Ministry’s Joint Staff, said the record number of scrambles is a response to an expansion in activities by Chinese fighter jets and other planes, Reuters reports.

“As for China, we understand they are keeping up vigorous activities,” he said.

[Reuters]

More Must-Reads from TIME

Cybersecurity Experts Are Sounding the Alarm on DOGE
Meet the 2025 Women of the Year
The Harsh Truth About Disability Inclusion
Why Do More Young Adults Have Cancer?
Colman Domingo Leads With Radical Love
How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone
Michelle Zauner Stares Down the Darkness