A Chinese military aircraft's recent incursion into Japanese airspace has triggered a strong response from Tokyo, which has labeled the incident a "serious violation" of Japan's sovereignty.
A Threat to Security
According to Digi24 the event occurred on Monday in the East China Sea, further straining the already tense relations between the two nations.
Japanese government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi condemned the violation, stating:
"The incursion of our airspace by a Chinese military aircraft is not only a grave infringement of our sovereignty but also a threat to our security, and it is completely unacceptable."
Monitoring Closely
According to Japan's Ministry of Defense, a Chinese Y-9 reconnaissance aircraft entered Japanese airspace at 11:29 AM local time (02:29 GMT) on Monday, remaining there for approximately two minutes.
Hayashi noted that this was the first confirmed and publicly announced incursion by a Chinese military aircraft since Japan implemented enhanced measures to combat such violations.
While the specific objective of the Chinese aircraft's mission remains unclear, Hayashi highlighted the increasing frequency and intensity of China's military activities near Japan.
He emphasized that the Japanese government will closely monitor Chinese military maneuvers and take all necessary steps to ensure vigilant surveillance and protect Japan's airspace.
