China flies military planes over Miyako Strait for first time

Chinese military planes overflew the Miyako Strait, separating the Japanese islands of Miyako and Okinawa, as part of military exercises in the western Pacific, Efe news agency reported on Friday.

The flight on Thursday, the first for Chinese military aircraft on that flight path, comprised bomber planes which flew in accordance with international norms and without affecting commercial flights, Chinese military spokesperson Col. Shen Jinke told the media.

On a military website, Shen claimed the exercise was not aimed against any country.

The Japanese defence ministry said it sent fighter planes to intercept two Chinese H-6 bombers flying around Miyako Strait.

Miyako Strait is considered strategically important owing to its proximity to the Diaoyutai or Senaku Islands, claimed by both China and Japan, and currently under Tokyo's control.

The manoeuvre comes amid heightened tension in the South China Sea, especially with regard to the Spratly Islands, to which several countries lay claim.

Recent satellite images have revealed that China has constructed infrastructure, including landing-strips, on some of the islands in the region.

For decades, China and Japan have disputed sovereignty over territories in the East China Sea and, with other countries including the Philippines and Vietnam, in the South China Sea.