Tokyo, Japan

Japan has slammed the first-ever incursion of a Chinese aircraft into its airspace by calling it "unacceptable" and a "serious violation" of its sovereignty. 

Advertisment

The incursion took place on Monday (Aug 26) for a two-minute period around 11:29 am (0229 GMT) near the uninhabited Danjo Islands, which prompted the Japanese authorities to scramble its fighter jets in the region. 

“The violation of our country's airspace by Chinese military aircraft is not only a serious violation of our country's sovereignty, but also a threat to our safety, and we consider it utterly unacceptable,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a news conference.

The Danjo Islands are a group of small islets, located in the East China Sea off Japan's southern Nagasaki region, and are not disputed territory.

Advertisment

“We understand that this is the first confirmed and announced airspace incursion by a Chinese military aircraft since we started the anti-airspace incursion measures," he added.

Tokyo said China's military activities in recent years near its territory had started to increase, prompting the government to keep an even closer eye. 

“The government will continue to watch China's military activities with keen interest, and will take all possible measures to ensure vigilant surveillance and prevent airspace violations."

Advertisment

According to experts, China may have been probing Japan's air defence network and seeking intelligence as Tokyo extends its cooperation with the US and other countries in the volatile region. 

Watch | China's Y-9 Reconnaissance Plane flew over Japan's Danjo Islands

×

China issues statement 

More than 24 hours after the incident, China issued a statement saying it had "no intention" of violating foreign airspace.

The statement came after US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan arrived in Beijing on Tuesday. According to reports, the issue might be brought up as Japan is Washington's closest ally in the region.    

The incursion comes against the backdrop of Chinese vessels and their repeated maritime provocations near disputed islands in the East China Sea - escalating regional tension.  

Also read | Japanese broadcaster NHK apologises for staffer claiming Senkaku Islands as ‘Chinese territory’

Prior to Monday's incursion, China had sent its aircraft into Japanese territorial airspace on just two occasions.

The first instance came in 2012 when a propeller plane was detected, and another time in 2017 involving a small drone — occurred near the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. Notably, China claims the Senkaku Islands as its own and calls it the Diaoyu. 

(With inputs from agencies)