Japan Expresses Strong Objections to Chinese Spy Plane Incursion

Tokyo : Japan has taken serious action in response to a recent incident where a Chinese spy plane lingered in its airspace for nearly two minutes. The Japanese government has declared the intrusion by China's Y-9 reconnaissance aircraft as unacceptable and has summoned China's acting ambassador to express their strong disapproval.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi reported that the Chinese military aircraft entered Japan's southwestern airspace on Monday, prompting the Japanese Self Defense Force to scramble fighter jets in response. This marks the first detection of a Chinese military aircraft in Japanese airspace by the Self Defense Forces.

During a press conference in Tokyo, Hayashi stated, "The entry of Chinese military aircraft into Japanese airspace is not only a severe violation of our territorial rights but also a threat to our security. We find this absolutely unacceptable."

According to Japan Today, the Joint Staff of the Japanese Self Defense Force announced late Monday that the Chinese Y-9 reconnaissance aircraft had circled over Danjo Islands, located off the southwestern coast of Kyushu, Japan's main southern island, for two minutes. Japanese authorities are currently analyzing this military activity from China. Japanese fighter jets reached the location and warned the Chinese aircraft to leave the area.

Hayashi highlighted that China's military activities around Japan have been increasing in recent years. In light of this incident, Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Masataka Okano summoned China's acting ambassador Shi Yong to lodge a formal complaint against the airspace violation.