Japan has reported that a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft violated its airspace off the coast of Nagasaki, prompting Tokyo to scramble fighter jets in response.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, a Chinese aircraft “breached the airspace off the Danjo Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture” on August 26th.
The specific incident involved a Chinese Y-9 reconnaissance aircraft, which entered Japanese airspace at 11:29 AM for approximately two minutes. In response, Japan swiftly deployed fighter jets and issued a stern diplomatic protest to China through official channels.
Japan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Masataka Okano, summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Chinese embassy in Tokyo to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he lodged a formal protest and issued a “strong demand” that Beijing refrain from such actions in the future. In response, the Chinese representative indicated that they would “report the issue” to Beijing, according to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment on the incident.
While China frequently operates military aircraft in international airspace over the East China Sea, this marks the first time Tokyo has accused Beijing of violating Japan’s airspace.
Japanese and Chinese vessels have previously encountered each other in contested areas, particularly around the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.
