CHINESE BOMBERS PROBE JAPANESE RESPONSES:

China urged calm after Japan scrambled fighter jets in response to the flight of six Chinese strategic bombers over the area between Okinawa and the Miyako Islands.

The flight of the twin-engine Xian H-6 bomber, built for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, took place on Thursday.

The Chinese government called it a “regular” exercise. Japan said six Chinese bombers were involved. Japan also reported the Chinese aircraft did not violate Japanese airspace.

RELATED: Japanese F-15J Eagle fighters training with USN EA-18G Growlers. I don’t know that F-15Js scrambled to meet the Chinese bombers but the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) deploys the F-15J as an all-weather air superiority fighter.