Japan scrambles fighters as a Chinese WZ-7 drone crosses the Miyako Strait twice, Tokyo says

The Joint Staff of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces announced that a Chinese WZ-7 high-altitude reconnaissance drone crossed the Miyako Strait twice on Monday, November 2, between the East China Sea and the Pacific. Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighters in response. On Tuesday a Chinese military analyst told the Global Times that the flights were “completely normal”.

According to Army Recognition, citing the Joint Staff announcement, the first WZ-7 approached from the East China Sea between Okinawa island and Miyako island and reached the Pacific. There it flew over sea areas south of Miyako as far as south of Okinawa, then crossed the same passage again heading for the Chinese mainland. A second flight was recorded in the afternoon along a similar route. The Joint Staff published photographs and a diagram of the route, and the fighters scrambled belonged to the Air Self-Defense Force’s Southwestern Air Defense Command.

Beijing’s reading of the flights

China’s Global Times presented the Japanese announcements as a “claim” and hosted Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs analyst. Zhang argued that the Miyako Strait is an important passage for ships and aircraft of many countries to the Western Pacific and that Japan should not make noise about such activity. The two flights on the same day, he said, may have aimed at continuous maritime surveillance and are consistent with the drone’s usual characteristics. He added that US and Japanese high-altitude aircraft have flown similar surveillance missions in the area for years and urged Tokyo not to apply double standards.

Zhang also pointed to the Japanese photographs, which show the underside of the WZ-7. In his estimate the drone was flying higher than the Japanese fighters, probably F-15s, which with weapons and external fuel tanks usually operate at 12,000 to 14,000 metres, while the WZ-7 flies at around 20,000 metres. The Global Times also quoted commentator Du Wenlong, who, referring to the material Japan released on October 25 about another WZ-7, said that if Japan can only look upwards, its assets do not reach that altitude and China’s aerial and naval advantages are consolidating rapidly in these waters.

The WZ-7 and Chinese training in the Western Pacific

The WZ-7, also known as Xianglong (“Soaring Dragon”), is a Chinese high-altitude, long-endurance drone for strategic reconnaissance, developed by the Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation. It is 14 metres long with a wingspan of 22.8 metres and a distinctive joined-wing layout. The Global Times, citing China National Radio, writes that it can carry synthetic aperture radar, high-resolution digital cameras, thermal imaging equipment and electronic reconnaissance systems. According to Zhang, it stays airborne for about 10 to 12 hours at a cruising speed of around 800 km/h. Army Recognition adds that, in the US Army’s assessment, its main mission is aerial reconnaissance, though it can also provide targeting data for anti-ship ballistic and cruise missiles.

The Japanese announcement comes as the Chinese aircraft carrier’s task group continues training in the Western Pacific. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy announced the deployment on October 14 and described it as routine training in its annual programme, not aimed at any specific country. See also our reports on the pattern of Liaoning’s Pacific deployments, on more than 50 Chinese ships tracked by Taiwan and on Chinese drones and aircraft around Japan during Keen Sword 27.