ISTANBUL

Tokyo detected a Chinese reconnaissance-attack drone flying near Okinawa in the East China Sea, according to the Japanese Joint Staff Office.

The incident occurred Monday within Japan’s air defense identification zone, an area beyond national territory where Tokyo seeks to identify, locate and control aircraft for national security purposes.

Authorities confirmed the detection in a statement that emphasized the significance of the new type of airspace violation by China.

It marks the first time Japan has identified that model of drone in airspace monitoring efforts, the statement added.

Tokyo administration prompted its air defense force to scramble fighter jets in response.

It comes as Japan announced Chinese ships have been detected near the disputed Diaoyu Islands, known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan, for a record 158 consecutive days. The islets have long been a source of tension between Japan and China, with both nations claiming sovereignty.

The Joint Staff Office oversees Japan's maritime, ground and air self-defense forces, highlighting the strategic importance of maintaining vigilance in the region.