A Chinese GJ-2 reconnaissance and attack drone was spotted for the first time near Japan's southern islands, including Okinawa, on Feb. 26, 2025. (Japan's Joint Staff)

A Chinese reconnaissance and attack drone was spotted for the first time flying near Japan, as Beijing continues to ramp up aggressive moves in the Indo-Pacific.

The GJ-2 unmanned aerial vehicle was observed Wednesday morning and afternoon near Japan’s southernmost islands, including Okinawa, according to a news release that day from Japan’s Joint Staff.

The drone was first seen flying southeast from the East China Sea, passing between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island, about 175 miles to the southwest, before reaching the Pacific Ocean. Miyako is part of Okinawa prefecture.

It then continued northeast up the Ryukyu island chain until reaching Amami Oshima, an island in Kagoshima prefecture, where it turned around and flew back to the East China Sea, again passing between Okinawa and Miyako, the release said.

A Chinese military BZK-005 reconnaissance drone flew a nearly identical route at the same time Wednesday, according to the release. It did not specify whether the two drones were flying together.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force scrambled aircraft in response, the release said.

A Chinese BZK-005 reconnaissance drone was spotted near Japan's southern islands, including Okinawa, on Feb. 26, 2025. (Japan's Joint Staff)

A Joint Staff spokesman declined to say how many aircraft were dispatched, what type they were or what specific actions were taken. The drones did not violate Japanese airspace, he said.

“We will continue to monitor developments in the airspace surrounding Japan with strong interest and will take all possible measures to conduct surveillance,” he said.

Some Japanese government officials speak to the press only on condition of anonymity.

The GJ-2, also known as the Wing Loong II, is an upgraded variant of the Wing Loong, according to a U.S. Army fact sheet. It is designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; electronic warfare; search-and-rescue; strike; peacekeeping; and border patrol missions. It can carry up to 12 air-to-surface missiles.

The drone flights coincided with Iron Fist, an annual amphibious exercise by the U.S. and Japan that runs through March 7 at various locations in Japan, including Okinawa.

In November 2022, the Air Self-Defense Force intercepted a BZK-005 drone along with a Y-9 intelligence-gathering aircraft and a Y-9 patrol aircraft flying between Okinawa and Miyako.