Japan Calls Its Airspace Violations By China Completely Unacceptable

Yoshimasa Hayashi. (Wikimedia Commons/US Department of State)

JAKARTA - Japanese airspace violations by a Chinese military plane were "completely unacceptable," a Japanese Government spokesman said Tuesday, a day after the incident and summoned a Chinese Embassy official in Tokyo as a form of protest.

The airspace breach "is not only a serious violation of Japan's sovereignty, but also threatens our security," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said.

He further said the Japanese government was continuing to monitor the increase in China's military activity near Japan, would be fully prepared for any airspace breaches, while refusing to comment on details of diplomatic talks between Tokyo and Beijing.

Earlier, Japan said a Chinese Y-9 reconnaissance aircraft flew over the Danjo Islands west of Kyushu Island, southern Japan for about two minutes on Monday morning, in what was said to be the first violation of its airspace by the Chinese military.

Japan's Ministry of Defense on Monday confirmed for the first time that a Chinese military-owned aircraft violated Japanese airspace. It was responded to by the deployment of fighter jets of Japan's Air Self-Defense Forces, quoted from Kyodo News.

Wakil Menteri Luar Negeri Masataka Okano memanggil Kuasa Usaha China Shi Yong dan mengajukan "protes yang sangat serius" atas pelanggaran wilayah tersebut, dengan tujuan memastikan penerbangan serupa tidak akan pernah terjadi lagi, kata Kementerian Luar Negeri Jepang.

Much earlier, a Chinese State Marine Administration aircraft and a Chinese Coast Guard drone violated Japan's airspace in 2012 and 2017, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

It is known that the two countries have long clashed over the Senkaku Islands. The Chinese coast guard ship has repeatedly entered Japanese territorial waters around the uninhabited island.