Last week, Japan’s military intercepted a Chinese long-range drone flying over the contested waters near its southwestern islands. The TB-001 reconnaissance and attack drone crossed the East China Sea and passed through the Miyako Strait heading towards the Pacific Ocean.
Japan, a key ally of the United States, has ongoing territorial disputes with China in the East China Sea, particularly around the Senkaku Islands (known as Diaoyu in China). Chinese vessels have been patrolling the area for more than 200 days.
The Miyako Strait, located between Miyako and Okinawa islands, is part of the first island chain that spans from Japan through Taiwan, the Philippines, Borneo, and down to the Malay Peninsula. This strait serves as a crucial route for China’s navy to access the Pacific Ocean for operations and drills.
To counter increasing Chinese naval activities, Japan has deployed anti-ship missile launchers on Okinawa. The TB-001 drone, also known as the Twin-Tailed Scorpion, is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle with a range of around 3,700 miles and capable of carrying weapons.
This recent drone interception marks the second encounter with this Chinese drone model by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force this month. During a previous encounter, the drone returned to China after passing through the Miyako Strait.
During the recent incident, the drone appeared to be heading towards the airspace between Taiwan and the Philippines, possibly returning to southern China after passing Taiwan. China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province, frequently conducts military activities around the island.
Notably, a Chinese military observer on X (formerly Twitter) mentioned that different TB-001 drones were used on the two flights, identified by their serial numbers. The first drone had the serial number “JD-1052,” while the second was labeled “JD-1051.”
Furthermore, Japan’s military spotted the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong in the Philippine Sea on July 9, three days before the second TB-001 drone was detected in the same area. It remains unclear whether the drone was operating in conjunction with the aircraft carrier during this incident.