The incident marked the first time a Chinese government helicopter violated Japanese airspace off the disputed islands, according to Japanese media. China’s coast guard also accused a Japanese aircraft of violating its airspace around the same area. Beijing stated that it will continue to take measures to protect its sovereignty over the islands. Both Tokyo and Beijing have been at odds over territorial claims in the East and South China Seas.
What happened?
Japan’s Foreign Ministry stated that a Chinese helicopter flew within Japanese airspace near the islands for about 15 minutes. Japan responded by scrambling fighter jets. Additionally, Japanese media reported that four Chinese coast guard vessels entered Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands on the same day.
The Japanese vice minister protested the intrusion and urged China to refrain from similar actions in the future. China, in return, accused a Japanese aircraft of intruding into its airspace and said it expelled the plane using a helicopter. Beijing expressed dissatisfaction with Japan’s violation of its sovereignty. There is, however, some debate over whether China’s claims of expelling Japanese vessels and aircraft from the area are accurate.
Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing have been exacerbated by disputes over territories in the East and South China Seas.
Edited by: Rana Taha
