A Chinese military aircraft entered Japanese airspace in an unprecedented move yesterday, suggesting Beijing’s willing to take a harder stance as the rivals spar over territory, trade and detained citizens.
Japan’s top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi called the incursion unacceptable, adding “this is not just a serious violation of our territory but also a threat to our security.”
China has yet to comment on the incident.
Photo: AFP / Japanese Ministry of Defense
The incursion took place before noon yesterday.
Japan scrambled fighter jets to warn off a Chinese Y-9 intelligence-gathering aircraft that spent two minutes in Japanese territorial airspace near uninhabited islands off Japan’s south coast.
The incident was the first confirmed incursion into Japan’s airspace by a Chinese military aircraft, according to an official at the Japanese Ministry of Defense, who asked not to be identified in line with ministry custom.
It comes as China clashes with the Philippines ahead of talks this week between senior Chinese officials and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in Beijing.
Japan frequently launches fighter jets when Chinese and Russian aircraft approach its territory.
Those scrambles rose to a monthly high this year of 85 last month, according to Japan’s military.
Until yesterday, Chinese military aircraft had avoided entering Japanese airspace.
The air incursion comes after Kyodo News and other media reported that a Japanese destroyer sailed into Chinese territorial waters last month, despite being warned by Chinese vessels.
Japan’s defense ministry has declined to confirm the report.
The ministry released a map yesterday showing the flight path of the Chinese Y-9 aircraft, which is equipped to gather electronic signals and other intelligence.
The plane circled the area near Japan’s Danjo islands before entering Japanese airspace, and then headed back toward China.
Japan summoned China’s acting ambassador to protest the air incursion and called for steps to prevent a recurrence.
In a separate meeting, a senior Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs official pressed a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs official on the seafood ban, detained citizens and the disputed island issue, according to a statement from the Japanese side.
There have been two previous incursions by Chinese government civilian aircraft — one by a propeller plane in 2012 and another by a drone in 2017, according to an official at the defense ministry.
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