Japan and South Korea have put their fighter jets on high alert in East China Sea and Sea of Japan after spotting Chinese aircrafts flying back and forth in the region, Japanese and South Korean officials said.

A Japanese defense ministry official's statement on Tuesday claimed that eight Chinese aircrafts conducted aerial operation over the Tsushima Strait on Monday. It further claimed that the eight aircrafts included six H-6 bombers, one warning plane, and one intelligence-gathering plane.

Like Us on Facebook

Japanese media claimed that Chinese planes did not breach Japan's airspace and also shed light on the route undertaken by Chinese pilots during the operation. It said that the planes first headed northeast over the Sea of Japan and made a u-turn to fly back to the East China Sea.

Meanwhile, South Korea's local media reported earlier in the day that 10 Chinese military aircrafts flew inside Korean airspace for about five hours. It claimed that the Chinese planes mostly conducted its operation in Jeju Island, which South Koreans refer to as "Ieodo."

China apparently considers "Ieodo" as part of its own air defense identification zone.

South Koreans swiftly responded to alleged airspace violation by dispatching 10 F-15 and F-16 fighter jets into the region. Beijing has so far not issued any statement on Tokyo and Seoul's aerial operation claims.    

It must be noted that last year, China conducted several air force drills in contagious areas including the western pacific region. Last November, Beijing carried out its third aerial operation in western pacific, which was quickly followed with Japanese air force exercising its own drill near the region.

China shares tense relationship with both Japan and South Korea over host of issues including territorial disputes and unresolved political issues.            

TagsJapan and South Korea, China and Japan, China and South Korea, china