Japan asserts Chinese military aircraft breached its airspace first time

TokyoCNN —

Japan reported a Chinese military intelligence-gathering aircraft entered its territorial airspace near remote islands in the East China Sea, marking the first time it accused the People’s Liberation Army Air Force of an airspace violation. This incident adds to the strained relations between China and Japan.

The Japanese Defense Ministry’s map showed the Chinese Y-9 reconnaissance plane briefly intruded into the islands’ territorial airspace, prompting the scramble of Japanese fighter jets in response, although no confrontation occurred.

Japan summoned a Chinese Embassy official to protest the intrusion, highlighting the increasing military activities in the region.

The tension escalates as China’s incursion into Japan’s airspace signifies a serious breach of sovereignty, sparking concerns over safety.

The long-standing dispute over territory in the East China Sea poses a significant risk of conflict, especially with the US-Japan mutual defense treaty coming into play in such incidents.