On Monday, August 26th, the Japanese Ministry of Defense reported that a military aircraft from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) “violated” Japanese airspace, prompting Japan to scramble fighter jets for interception.
The aircraft was identified as a Y-9 reconnaissance plane and was seen flying over the airspace near the Danjo Islands on the western side of Kyushu Island around 11:29 to 11:31 am. In response, the Japanese Ministry of Defense issued a statement indicating that they had “urgently scrambled fighter jets.”
The Ministry of Defense further explained that the Japan Self-Defense Forces took measures such as issuing warnings to the aircraft. According to reports from the public broadcaster NHK, the Self-Defense Force jets did not resort to using flare shells or other weapons as a warning signal.
This incident marks the first time a military aircraft from the PRC has entered Japanese airspace. The Japanese government has lodged a strong protest with Beijing through diplomatic channels.
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Deputy Foreign Minister Masataka Okano met with senior officials from the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo to lodge a protest against the invasion and strongly urged China to take measures to prevent similar violations from recurring.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the Chinese diplomat in response indicated that they would report the matter back to Beijing.
Tensions between Japan and China have previously escalated in disputed areas, particularly in the East China Sea over the Senkaku Islands, known as the Diaoyu Islands in China.
In recent years, Beijing’s assertiveness over these islands has grown. Reports from Tokyo suggest that Chinese coast guard vessels, navy ships, and even nuclear-powered submarines have been active in the region.
NHK reported that there have been previous incidents of non-military aircraft from China, including a propeller plane and a small unmanned aircraft, intruding into Japanese airspace near the Senkaku Islands in 2012 and 2017, respectively.
The Danjo Islands are a group of small islands located in the East China Sea, adjacent to the Nagasaki region in southern Japan.
In response to China’s increasing assertiveness in the region, Japan has strengthened its security ties with the United States. Japan has also increased defense spending and focused on enhancing “counterattack” capabilities.
Simultaneously, Japan has bolstered its military cooperation with the Philippines and South Korea, both of which have been involved in ongoing territorial disputes with Beijing.