China Builds A Military Base Near The Disputed Islands Of Japan

The military buildup on Nanji was first disclosed by Japan’s Kyodo News Service last month. Kyodo, quoting Chinese sources, said a landing strip was being built.

Zachary Keck, National Interest: Confirmed: China Is Building a Military Base Near Japan

Update #1: Photos Show China Military Buildup on Island Near Senkakus -- Washington Free Beacon
Update #2: Imagery shows heliport on China's Nanji Islands -- IHS Jane's 360

WNU Editor: There are a number of coastal Chinese military bases in Fujian province facing Taiwan (I should know I visited one as a guest in the mid 1980s) .... but this new base is closer to the disputed islands and farther away from Taiwan. This is alos China's way of planning for the long term and indicating to the Japanese that they expect this dispute to intensify over time.

Chinese And Russian Aircraft Are Testing Japanese Air Defenses

A Japanese F-15J allegedly buzzing a Chinese Tu-154 in June.

Japan Intercepted Record Number of Chinese and Russian Military Aircraft -- USNI

Japan intercepted a record number of Russian and Chinese aircraft close to its territorial waters over the past six months.

The country’s military flew 533 intercepts during the first half of fiscal year 2014, according to a Jane’s Defence Weekly report. Compared to that same period in 2013, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), as the Japanese air force is known, flew 308 sorties.

The increasing number of intercepts is part of a growing trend. The JASDF has flown an increasing number of air intercepts since 2011. In fiscal year 2011, there were 425 intercepts, 567 in 2012 and 810 in 2013. If the trend continues, the number of intercepts could rise to Cold War-era levels.

Read more ....

My Comment: Russia is testing Japan's new air defenses, and China is now feeling confident to stake it's territorial claims over Japanese objections.