Editor
Japan has accused a Chinese spy airplane of breaching its airspace, in what could be the primary identified time {that a} Chinese airplane has immediately violated Japanese airspace.
Japan scrambled fighter jets after a Y-9 surveillance airplane “violated the territorial airspace” of Danjo islands at 11:29 native time Monday (02:29 GMT).
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary referred to as the breach “completely unacceptable” and summoned a Chinese embassy official in Tokyo in protest.
The incident comes as tensions rise within the area, the place China competes for affect towards the US and its allies, together with Japan.
There has been no official response from Beijing.
The incursion on Monday lasted two minutes and the Japanese issued “notifications and warnings” to the Chinese plane. No weapons similar to flare weapons have been used, in keeping with broadcaster NHK.
Japan has additionally just lately flagged the presence of Chinese ships within the Senkaku islands within the East China Sea, which is claimed by China and which Beijing calls the Diaoyus.
China has develop into more and more assertive within the area, in its claims over Taiwan in addition to the South China Sea.
Additional reporting by Chika Nakayama in Tokyo
