Japan F-15 scrambled after China plane approaches disputed islets

Japan scrambled F-15 fighter aircraft after a Chinese Government plane was spotted on course for a group of disputed islets, officials said Monday.

A Y-12 turboprop from China headed south over the East China Sea early Sunday, prompting the Japanese aircraft to take off from Okinawa, the Defence Ministry said.

It turned back toward China 100 kilometres before entering Japanese airspace, the ministry said. An official declined to say how many Japanese jets were scrambled.

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