Send a new U.S. reconnaissance plane to Japan

Send a new U.S. reconnaissance plane to Japan

U.S. Navy to deploy cutting-edge Japanese surveillance aircraft , officials said on Monday , as concerns the recognition of China's rising tensions over territory in the region .

Two jet P - 8A Poseidon patrol sent from Jaksonville , Florida , on Friday and arrived at Kadena Air Base , Okonawa , in a conscious effort before Beijing announced the area of air defense in the last month include the disputed islands in the East China Sea , said Navy officials told AFP .

" This has been planned for a long time , " said the official who requested anonymity it .

" It's a rotating deployment . "

Four more Poseidon aircraft is scheduled to be shipped to Okinawa later this month , the official said .

Delivery of the aircraft to Japan is the first mission for the new aircraft , which will menggantkan P - 3 Orion aircraft made ​​in the 1960s .

P - 8A aircraft , the Boeing 737 is modified by installing advanced radar and anti - ship missile , designed to hunt submarines and other vessels at sea track .

On November 23 , China announced the air defense identification zone expanded and said each aircraft must file a flight plan before entering the area , a place where the disputed islands in the East China Sea .

Japan , South Korea , Taiwan and the United States have each sent aircraft into the zone without telling the Chinese , which indicates their refusal to acknowledge Beijing 's announcement .

After sending two B - 52 bombers last week , the U.S. military still perform military flights " routine " in that area but there was no response to hostility from China , said Pentagon spokesman Col. Steven Warren told reporters Monday.

" China's reaction to the ordinary course of our operations , " said Warren .

" We have not changed our operating hours , " he added .

Deploying P - 8 aircraft came as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will deliver a " concern " Washington told the Chinese about China's air defense system zone and learns to ask for an explanation regarding Beijing 's intentions