In an unprecedented move, Japan has formally accused China of violating its airspace for the first time, escalating tensions between the two Asian powers. The incident, involving a Chinese military aircraft, occurred on Monday and has prompted a strong diplomatic response from Tokyo.
Japan’s defence ministry said an Y-9 surveillance aircraft at 11.29am on Monday “violated the territorial airspace off the Danjo islands in Nagasaki prefecture” in the East China Sea. It prompted Japan to deploy “fighter jets on an emergency basis”, Kyodo news outlet reported.
The incursion lasted approximately two minutes, triggering an emergency deployment of Japanese fighter jets.
The Chinese aircraft reportedly circled waters southeast of the islands multiple times before and after the airspace violation, eventually returning to Chinese territory around 1:15 PM. Japanese officials said that while their Air Self-Defense Force fighters were scrambled, no weapons or signal flares were used during the encounter.
Kyodo news agency cited a Japanese defence Ministry source as saying that China “might be trying to provoke a reaction from Japan,” while a government source said the airplane merely grazed the territorial airspace and possibly strayed off course.
China’s increasing aggressive actions in the region, especially with Taiwan, has been a growing cause of concern for US and its allies.
The Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, administered by Japan, have been a point of contention with China, which also claims sovereignty over them. This dispute has led to confrontations between Japanese and Chinese vessels in the surrounding waters. The group of islands, including Uotsuri Island, Minamikojima, and Kitakojima, are referred to as the Diaoyu Islands in China.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over China’s assertive actions in the region, particularly regarding Taiwan. Japan, a member of the Quad alliance alongside India, Australia, and the United States, has been increasingly wary of Beijing’s military activities in the Indo-Pacific.
Meanwhile, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is set to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing today.
(Inputs from ANI)