Japan disturbs Chinese air patrols over Diaoyu Islands

China's Ministry of National Defense says Chinese military planes are carrying out normal patrol flights near the Diaoyu Islands. The statement comes in response to Japanese reports that more than 40 Chinese military planes have made flights close to the disputed islands.

China says Japan last Tuesday deployed F-15 fighter jets and P-3C anti-submarine patrol aircraft to monitor, track and disturb the Chinese patrols and the Chinese side took measures to deal with that.