On Monday morning, Japan’s defense ministry scrambled fighter jets in response to a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft that briefly violated its airspace. The aircraft, identified as a Y-9 reconnaissance plane, flew over the Danjo Islands located west of the southern island of Kyushu between 11:29 a.m. and 11:31 a.m. This incident marks the first recorded instance of a Chinese military aircraft breaching Japanese airspace.
The Japanese government responded swiftly, lodging a strong protest against Beijing through diplomatic channels. Separately, Japan’s foreign ministry summoned a senior official from the Chinese embassy in Tokyo. Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano conveyed the Japanese government’s displeasure regarding the incursion and issued a firm demand for the prevention of future breaches.
Chinese foreign ministry officials were unavailable for immediate comment on the matter.
