Japanese government working to avoid WW3

According to official figures, over the past twelve months, Japan has scrambled a number of fighter jets, among escalating tension with China.

Speaking on the issue, the Japanese Air Self Defence Force affirmed that the jets had been scrambled for about 1,168 times in the past twelve months up to the end of March 2017.

This is reported to be a sharp increase paralleled to the previous twelve months where fighter jets were deployed 873 times.

Based on the report, it was recorded that 851 jets were used to ward off Chinese planes seen to be coming close to Japanese air space.

It was also recorded that Russian planes, which is mostly made up of bombers, poses serious concerns after flying from the north and it comes close to Japan, having 301 incidents – an increase of 4.5%.

The reported figure comes among fears by Japan that the Chinese government is increasing its military activities in a bid to get influence in the East China Sea.

The US and Japan have been collaborating close to the Korean peninsula, amid global tensions

The joint exercises are seen as a show of strength against the sabre-rattling of North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong-un.

Reports that the North Korean leader was preparing to detonate a nuclear device have emerged overnight with the Voice of America reporting the country had plans to test a bomb buried in a tunnel.

Journalists visiting North Korea have have been told to prepare for a "big and important event" on Thursday as Pyongyang marks the 105th birth anniversary of its founding president Kim Il Sung on April 15, North Korea's biggest national day called "Day of the Sun”.

However, the military exercises by Japan will anger China, which has supported North Korea.

It has reacted by scrambling 25,000 more troops to the border with North Korea and put the country on “nationwide alert”.

The extra troops are on top of the 150,000 which were mobilised on Sunday to the area.

China’s armoured and mechanised infantry brigades in the Shandong, Zhejiang and Yunnan provinces have been given the go-ahead.

Tensions regarding North Korea have threatened to boil over in recent weeks after US President Donald Trump promised to deal with the nation unilaterally should China not help and put pressure on their neighbour and ally.

The US President tweeted: "North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! USA.”