Most papers wrote that the Ministry of Defense announced on July 5 that Japan scrambled ASDF fighter jets against Chinese aircraft approaching its airspace a record 199 times in the April-June period as Chinese activities are intensifying in areas near the Senkaku Islands. The previous record of 198 was set over the preceding three months, and Japan scrambled ASDF fighters a total of 281 times in the three months through June, including 78 times against Russian aircraft.

In a related development, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hagiuda dismissed the Chinese Defense Ministry’s claim that ASDF fighter jets activated their fire-control radar against Chinese aircraft in June by saying that the Japanese planes did not take any provocative action.