Japan's Defense Ministry says the number of scrambles conducted by its Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets during fiscal year 2023 was the lowest that it has been in the past 10 years.
The ministry says the ASDF scrambled fighter jets 669 times against aircraft approaching Japan's airspace in fiscal 2023, which ended in March. That figure is down 14 percent from the year before.
Sorties against Chinese aircraft took place 479 times, against Russian aircraft 174 times, and against North Korean aircraft two times.
Scrambles against Chinese and Russian aircraft accounted for 98 percent of the total.
The ministry says a 17 percent drop in scrambles against Chinese aircraft contributed to the overall decline.
It says that although the number of sorties against Chinese aircraft is down compared to the year before, the figure continues to remain high. It adds that the Chinese aircraft are operating in larger areas.
The ministry says that in fiscal 2023, for the first time, Chinese reconnaissance drones were spotted flying over the Sea of Japan as well as between Taiwan and Okinawa Prefecture's Yonaguni Island.
The ministry says it will continue to monitor the activities of Chinese aircraft and remain on the alert.