Japan's Defense Ministry says it has spotted a Chinese military drone flying over waters off the southwestern Japanese island of Amami Oshima in Kagoshima Prefecture.

The ministry is keeping a close watch as it is the first time that a Chinese unmanned military aircraft has been sighted off the island.

Ministry officials said they confirmed a TB-001 reconnaissance and attack drone flying south between Okinawa Prefecture's main island and Miyako Island to the Pacific Ocean. The drone then changed course northeast and flew to east of Amami Oshima Island. It was then heading back toward the Chinese mainland on the same flight path.

Japan's Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighter jets, but the drone didn't violate Japan's territorial airspace.

The Self-Defense Forces spotted another type of Chinese reconnaissance and attack drone for the first time on May 27, flying over the East China Sea.

The ministry is carefully monitoring moves by the Chinese military as it is believed to be intensifying activities near Japan.