US Ally Intercepts Chinese Surveillance Plane

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighter jets to intercept a Chinese surveillance aircraft on Monday. The Y-9 electronic intelligence-gathering plane carried out a circular patrol as it passed near islands belonging to Japan’s southwesternmost prefecture, Okinawa, the U.S. ally said in a press release. This version of the Y-9 specializes in intercepting and analyzing electronic signals, making it indispensable to gathering strategic data on an adversary’s offensive or defensive operations, missile launches and troop movements. It can also provide an early warning that can be pivotal in defending against attacks. A Newsweek map (below) based on data that was…