China flies military planes over strait near Japan

Beijing (AFP) – China has sent fighter planes for the first time over a strait near Japan, the two governments said Monday, after Tokyo announced it may patrol alongside the US in the disputed South China Sea.

More than 40 Chinese military aircraft on Sunday traversed the Miyako Strait between Japan’s Miyako and Okinawa Islands, to carry out training in the West Pacific, according to a statement on China’s defence ministry website.

The Sukhoi Su-30 fighters, bombers and refuelling aircraft did not violate Japanese airspace.

PLA switching to an offensive footing, says Russian expert

The release of China’s ninth defense white paper on May 26 indicates that the People’s Liberation Army has changed its traditional strategy of coastal defense. By acquiring more advanced weapons systems, the development of PLA Navy in the future will be focused on its offensive capability. Under this strategy, the mission of China’s strategic missile division known as the Second Artillery Corps has become more important, Sivkov said.