Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan has vowed to defend Japan’s territory after a Russian patrol plane violated its airspace, leading to a protest from Tokyo. The Russian plane entered Japan’s airspace over territorial waters near Rebun Island, Hokkaido, prompting the Japanese military to scramble fighter jets and issue warnings. This incident marked the first confirmed incursion since 2019, according to Defence Minister Minoru Kihara.
Kishida, speaking from New York, described the situation as “extremely regrettable” and emphasized Japan’s commitment to defending its territory. Japan has been supporting Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Kishida recently met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and received a top Ukrainian order of merit for Japan’s support.
In a separate incident, the Japanese defence ministry reported an aircraft believed to be Russian entered Japanese airspace in 2023. This comes amidst increased military activities in the region, including joint drills between Russian and Chinese warships in the Sea of Japan.
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