Japan Protests Russian Airspace Violation, Calls for Prevention of Recurrence
Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara has lodged a protest with the Russian government following a recent incident where a Russian patrol plane trespassed into Japanese airspace multiple times. Kihara confirmed that a Russian Il-38 patrol aircraft violated Japan’s airspace near Rebun Island in Hokkaido on three separate occasions.
Japanese fighter jets had to intervene by issuing warnings over the radio and firing flares during the third intrusion. Kihara has urged the Russian government to take measures to prevent such occurrences in the future through diplomatic channels.
This incident marks the first publicly announced airspace violation by a Russian aircraft since June 2019, when a Tu-95 bomber intruded into Japanese airspace near Okinawa and the Izu Islands. Japan, which supports Western efforts in Ukraine, is closely monitoring the situation. The Russian government has not yet issued a statement regarding the airspace breaches.
Japan has ongoing territorial disputes with Russia over the Kuril Islands, China, and Taiwan in the East China Sea. Tensions have also risen with China after a recent airspace violation by a Chinese military aircraft. The deepening relationship between Russia and China has raised concerns in the region, with joint military exercises being conducted in the Sea of Japan.
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