Beijing — China’s air force carried out another round of long-range drills on Monday, flying into the Sea of Japan and prompting South Korean and Japanese jets to scramble, and again around Taiwan amid growing tension over China’s assertiveness. In recent months China has ramped up its long-range air force drills, particularly around self-ruled Taiwan, claimed by China as its own. In a statement, the air force said fighter and bomber aircraft flew through the Tsushima Strait that separates South Korea from Japan and into international waters in the Sea of Japan. The Sea of Japan is not Japan’s, and the drills were lawful and reasonable, air force spokesman Shen Jinke said, describing the exercises as routine and preplanned. Japan air space The Japanese defence ministry said in a statement the aircraft — two SU-30 fighters, two H-6 bombers and one TU-154 reconnaissance plane — had not violated Japan’s airspace. In Seoul, South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said five Chinese military ...
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