New model of Chinese military drone flying between Okinawa main island and Miyako island confirmed - Ministry of Defense

Recently HNK News on-line reported the following:

初確認機種の中国軍無人機 沖縄本島と宮古島の間を飛行 防衛省

2023年1月1日 23時18分

防衛省は1日、中国軍の無人機が沖縄本島と宮古島の間の上空を飛行したと発表しました。初めて確認した機種だということで警戒と監視を続けています。

防衛省によりますと、1日午前から午後にかけて、中国軍の偵察型無人機「WZ7」1機が沖縄本島と宮古島の間の上空を飛行して東シナ海から太平洋の方向に通過したのが確認されました。

無人機は宮古島の南の上空で旋回したあと、同じコースを戻って中国大陸の方向へ飛行したということです。

航空自衛隊の戦闘機がスクランブル＝緊急発進して対応し領空侵犯はありませんでした。

防衛省によりますと、この機種を日本周辺で確認したのは初めてで、これまでに確認した中国軍の無人機としては4機種目だということです。

防衛省は中国軍がさまざまな機種の無人機を活用して運用能力の向上を図っている可能性があるとみて、警戒と監視を続けています。

Translation

The Ministry of Defense announced on the 1st that a Chinese military drone flew over the area between the main island of Okinawa and Miyakojima. As it was the first confirmed model, vigilance and monitoring would be continued.

According to the Ministry of Defense, from the morning to the afternoon on the 1st, a reconnaissance-type drone "WZ7" of the Chinese military flew over the area between the main island of Okinawa and Miyako Island; and passed from the East China Sea to the Pacific Ocean.

After circling in the sky south of Miyako Island, the drone returned to the same course and flew in the direction of mainland China.

Air Self-Defense Force fighters responded by scramble = emergency launch, and there was no airspace violation.

According to the Ministry of Defense, a new model had been confirmed around Japan, and the fourth type of Chinese military drone that was confirmed so far.

The Ministry of Defense continued vigilance and monitoring, and saw the possibility that the Chinese military was using various types of drones to improve their operational capabilities.

              So, according Japan, this is the first time that another new model of drone from China is confirmed to appear around Japan. It seems that drones are being used more frequently to carry out military operations.