Japan scrambling fighters less often against China as it looks to deploy more F-35s Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site. If you're not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site: https://www.enable-javascript.com/ An Air Self-Defense Force F-35A stealth fighter at Misawa Base in Aomori Prefecture | KYODO Kyodo, Staff report Mar 3, 2021 Faced with a barrage of activity in the East China Sea, Japan has decided to only scramble fighter jets when Chinese military aircraft threaten to violate the country’s airspace, government sources have said. The change in policy comes as the Defense Ministry seeks to shift from reactively mobilizing aircraft to proactive surveillance, freeing up resources to concentrate on more high-level training using its latest F-35 stealth fighters, the sources said Tuesday.